What is Science?http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/chapter-9-the-scientific-method-made-easy/

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Science is both a body of knowledge and a way of thinkingScience acquires knowledge through the 5 senses or instruments that go beyond the sensesSciences looks for patterns and connections between events in the natural world not the supernatural.Science proposes explanations that can be testedScience is subject to repeated testing and review and can never proved beyond all doubt

Science as a ProcessScientific Method- organizational

approach to solving problems

Nothing more than a problem solving strategy

Conclusions are reached through carefulexamination of observable evidenceEvidence must be objective (measurable)

The Scientific Method

Section 1-2

Flowchart

Problem/question defined by observation

Form a Hypothesis- “the prediction”

Set Up a Controlled Experiment

Record and Analyze Results(data)

Draw a Conclusion

Accept or Reject hypothesis

Experiment repeated and reviewed by peers

Publication into a Theory

Revise/ModifyHypothesis

Scientific thinking begins with Observation and Inference

Observation-the first step in any

problem solving strategy

-Process of gathering data using the 5 senses

-Observation may involve collecting data, posing a question, or defining a problem

Inference (prediction)

-hunch or premis based on observation, prior knowledge or experiences

-Creative imagination

Observation

Observation: when studying something describe only facts that you can see, touch, smell and hear. You are not making any guesses. THIS IS NOT AN OPINION!!

Ohh… This liquid is green and it is leaking from a brown can. I also smell it.

Inference

Inference: using your observations to make a guess about an object or an outcome

THIS CAN BE A SCIENTIFIC OPINION

Based on my observations, I think that this can is old and is leaking a toxic substance.

Science as a way of thinkinghttp://webpages.charter.net/kwingerden/erhs/aquarium/processs.htm#Observing&CollectingData

Information gained through observation is known as dataCollecting data (information from observation)Two kinds:- Quantitative data- Qualitative data

Quantitative Data

Must be measurable (#’s)

Qualitative data

Observable but not measurable with #’s

Check your Progress

If Sarah measures the height of her bean plant, she is gathering _________data.

A qualitativeB quantitativeC observationalD interpretive

Step 2: Forming a Hypothesis

Hypothesis- inferences or statement that explains observations and data.Can be inference (guess) based on prior knowledge, experience, or observation.Can be creative imaginationIt must be Testable (Falsifiable)Can never be proven true beyond all doubt.Usually written in If /Then statement

Check point

Which of the following is a valid hypothesis? WHY?A. If my car does not start, then I will call my mom.B. If my car does not start, then I will be late for school.C. If my car does not start, then I must be out of gas

Observe the following shapes and come up with three observations/rules to identify rectangles If …. Then….

Deductive reasoning If…. Then...

90

Check your progress

Hypothesis: If the amount of calcium intake is increased, then bone strength will increase.

Is this a valid hypothesis, and if so, why?

Step 3: Experimentation

Experimentation is the process of testing an hypothesisA Variable is any factor that can change in an experiment. Examples include: Temperature, amount of light, equipment used, and timeThe factor being tested is called the Independent Variable or the manipulated variable (what is altered in the experiment).“Good” experimentation test one and only one variable at a time while all others are kept the same.A control is based on a comparison of one Group to the experimental GroupA Controlled experiment involves only one changed variable, while keeping all other variables unchangedThe factor being measured or observed in both the control and experimental groups is called the Dependent Variable or responding variable.

Check your Progress

Hypothesis: If the amount of calcium intake is increased, then bone strength will increase.

Which of these is the independent (manipulated) variable for an experiment testing this hypothesis? Experimental group size Length of experimentCalcium intake Bone strength

OBSERVATIONS: Flies land on meat that is left uncovered. Later, maggots appear on the meat.

HYPOTHESIS: Flies produce maggots.PROCEDURE

Controlled Variables:jars, type of meat,location, temperature,time

Manipulated Variables:gauze covering thatkeeps flies away from meat

Uncovered jars Covered jars

Several days pass

Maggots appear No maggots appearResponding Variable: whether maggots appear

CONCLUSION: Maggots form only when flies come in contact with meat. Spontaneous generation of maggots did not occur.

Section 1-2

Figure 1-8 Redi’s Experiment on Spontaneous Generation

Scientist hypothesized that rice provided greater nutrition to mice than other foods. To test this, they fed three different mice the same portion of food for two weeks, and one mouse the same portion of all three foods for two weeks. The graph at the right shows the results of the experiment .

List the variables of this experiment.What is the independent variable in this experiment?What is the dependent variable in this experiment?Is this a controlled experiment, Why or why not?

Check your Progress

Experimental Data, Analysis of Results and Conclusions

Experimental data should be measurablePeer review of data is encouragedData may lead to new findings or rejection of hypothesisMultiple data sets and contributions from other investigators is encouragedConclusions are subject to change as new evidence becomes availableConclusions can support, reject, or modify a hypothesis.

Hypothesis vs. Theory

Theory- general grouping of related hypothesis that have been subjected to repeated testing/experimentation providing similar results and conclusions about a natural event.

I Thou shalt base conclusions on evidenceII Thou shalt measure objectively, not

subjectivelyIII Thou shalt back-up thy statements with

evidenceIV Thou shalt use large samples numbersV Thou test shalt be blindVI Thou test shalt have controlsVII Thou shalt cite thy sources of informationVIII Thou sources of information must be

reliable verifyableIX Opinions are not factX Thou shalt not “fudge data”

The Ten Commandments of Science