Thinking Like a Scientist

Thinking Like a Scientist

Solve the Following Brainteaser • J, F, M, A, M, J, J, A, __, __, __, __ • Fill in the Blanks • Answer: • S, O, N, D

How About This One? • Decipher the following code: • yyuryyubicuryy4me • Answer: • Too wise you are, too wise you be, I see you are too wise for me.

So What Did We Do? • Analyzed the problem/asked a question. • Developed an idea. • Began testing that idea. • Drew a conclusion. • Rethought our idea. • Basically, we used the: • SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence.

Scientific Method Problem/Question Observation/Research Formulate a Hypothesis Experiment Collect and Analyze Results Conclusion Communicate the Results

Steps of the Scientific Method 1. Problem/Question: Develop a question or problem that can be solved through experimentation.

Steps of the Scientific Method 2. Observation/Research: Make observations and research your topic of interest.

Do you remember the next step?

Steps of the Scientific Method 3. Formulate a Hypothesis: Predict a possible answer to the problem or question. Example: If soil temperatures rise, then plant growth will increase.

Steps of the Scientific Method 4. Experiment: Develop and follow a procedure. Include a detailed materials list. The outcome must be measurable (quantifiable).

Steps of the Scientific Method 5. Collect and Analyze Results: Modify the procedure if needed. Confirm the results by retesting. Include tables, graphs, and photographs.

Steps of the Scientific Method 6. Conclusion: Include a statement that accepts or rejects the hypothesis. Make recommendations for further study and possible improvements to the procedure.

Steps of the Scientific Method 7. Communicate the Results: Be prepared to present the project to an audience. Expect questions from the audience.

Think you can name all seven steps? Collect and Analyze Results Formulate a Hypothesis Communicate the Results Observation/Research Problem/Question Experiment Conclusion

Let’s put our knowledge of the Scientific Method to a realistic example that includes some of the terms you’ll be needing to use and understand.

Problem/Question Let’s say we want to test the school’s new dress code and how teachers are monitoring it.

Problem/Question Would teachers enforce the dress code if all students dressed like pirates.

Observation/Research What would we do to research this?

Formulate a Hypothesis After talking with our classmates and conducting further research, we come up with a hypothesis. “If we dress like pirates the teachers will make us change clothes.”

Hypothesis The hypothesis is an educated guess about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Note: These variables will be defined in the next few slides.

Do you know the difference between the independent and dependent variables?

Independent Variable The independent, or manipulated variable, is a factor that’s intentionally varied by the experimenter. We may choose to have Freshmen wear pirate hats, Sophomores watches with chains, Juniors eye patches, and Seniors all of the above.

Dependent Variable The dependent, or responding variable, is the factor that may change as a result of changes made in the independent variable. In this case, it would be the various teachers in the building.

Control Group In a scientific experiment, the control is the group that serves as the standard of comparison. The control group may be a “no treatment" or an “experimenter selected” group.

Control Group The control group is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group, except for the variable being tested. All experiments should have a control group.

Control Group In our case the administrative team will be the control group. This is mainly because they are the ones that have written the dress code and enforce it.

Constants We must keep all other factors the same so that any observed changes in enforcement can be attributed to the variation in the clothes worn.

Constants The constants in an experiment are all the factors that the experimenter attempts to keep the same.

Experiment We need to write out a procedure for our experiment along with a materials list.

Trials Trials refer to replicate groups that are exposed to the same conditions in an experiment. We are going to test each academic hall 3 times.

Collect and Analyze Results After designing an experiment you must come up with a table to record your data, gather materials together and carry out the experiment.

Enforced or Not

Collect and Analyze Results After examining our data what can we see?

Conclusion We can revise our hypothesis to look at the difference in dress code enforcement between male and female teachers.

Experiment Once again, we need to gather materials and carry out our experiment.

Conclusion After performing the experiment we find that more female teachers enforce the dress code vs. the male teachers at HHS.

Communicate the Results After finding out the results we need to be able to present the project in Science class.

Thinking Like a Scientist