Tennessee SPI Objective: Identify a faulty interpretation of data that is due to bias or...

Tennessee SPI Objective:Identify a faulty interpretation of data that is due to bias or experimental error.

Notes Date

Essential Question(s)1) What is bias, and why is it important to avoid this in science experiments?2) What is an error, and why is it important to avoid this in science experiments?

Check for UnderstandingExamine flawed scenarios from history that included eitherbias or errors.

SPI 0807.Inq.5 (Bias and Error)

Instructions for Students1) Make sure you view this presentation in slideshow mode.2) You can find instructions about how to do this by doing a Google search or by searching YouTube.3) After you have it in slideshow mode, press the right-arrow keyboard button to advance through the presentation.4) If you need help, please communicate with your teacher.

Bias is Very Bad!

Notes

Bias and Error in ScienceBias: this means you are prejudiced towards or against something and that you allow your views to affect the results of your experiment.

Bias

Science is about obtaining accurate resultsso bias should NEVER be allowed to influenceyour experimental results!

Bias

ScienceSPI 0807.Inq.5 Bias and Error

Example: You are doing research to determine which NFL quarterback has the greatest accuracy with throwing a football, and your favorite football team is the Tennessee Titans.

This is BIAS, and it should NEVER be allowed in science.

You are disappointed to learn that the Titans' quarterback is the second most accurate instead of the first.

Yet because this is your favorite team, you change the data so that this quarterback appears to be the most accurate.

Example: Bubba loves extra salt on his “French-fried taters.”

BIAS should NEVER be allowed in science experiments!

Identify the bias or error in this situation

He conducts an experiment to determine how much better french-fries taste with lots of extra salt.

ANSWER: Because Bubba likes extra salt on his fries, hewrongly assumes that everyone else will like extra salt too.He is biased toward salt, so his results will contain errors.

Two students who love Justin Bieber’s music do an experiment tomeasure how long people have to hear one of Justin’s songs beforethey too fall in love with his sound.

A Case of Bieber Fever

Answer: These two students are biased towards Justin Beiber, so their results will probably be biased and wrong too.

Question: Which choice below most likely will occur in this case?

A) Bias C) Song and Dance B) End of the world D) World Peace

BIAS should NEVER be allowed in science experiments!

Humans are imperfect, so bias happens both intentionally and unintentionally.

Notes

Solutions to Bias in Science

ScienceSPI 0807.Inq.5 Bias and Error

Ways to Reduce and/or Eliminate Bias Be aware that bias can and does happen. Strive to recognize it, and eliminate it from your

experiments. Follow the steps and principles of the scientific method. Most importantly, make sure that others rigorously

review your work looking for bias.

Notes SPI 0807.Inq.5 Bias and Error Science

Thomas Edison and Direct Current Electricity

Thomas Edison

Famous Examples of Bias in Science

DC vs AC (Edison vs Tesla: 1880s)

Bias:

Edison promoted direct current electricity (DC), but Nikola Tesla promoted alternating current (AC).

Experiments had clearly demonstrated that alternating current was more practical and less expensive.

Nearly all electricity generated today is AC


Edison Tesla

Yet Edison was biased for DC and refused to yield.


Dr. Hwang Wook Suk and Cloning Technology

Dr. Hwang Woo Suk


Cloning Technology (Dr. Hwang Woo Suk)

Bias:

In 1999 he claimed to have cloned a cow.In 2004 he claimed to have cloned human stem cells.In 2005 he claimed to have cloned a dog.

He had fabricated and/or deleted experimental data.


In 2006 he was dismissed from Seoul National University, and he was indicted for fraud, embezzlement, and violations of bioethics laws.

Avoid Mistakes: One small error can result in all your experimental data

being wrong. So scientists work very hard to avoid making mistakes.

Peer Review: One key way scientists deal with this issue is by having

other scientists review their work to check for mistakes. This very common practice is called peer review.

Notes SPI 0807.Inq.5 Bias and Error

Errors in Science

Science

To Avoid Mistakes: Make sure you are following the steps of the scientific

method. Make sure you have only one independent variable at a

time. Make sure you correctly identify your dependent

variables. Make sure you include valid control experiments. Make sure you record in detail every step of your

experiment. Ask someone else to review all your work (peer review).



Famous Errors in Science

Science

Mars Climate Orbiter:


Famous Errors in Science

Science

Mars Climate Orbiter:

Expensive Mistake:

Launched by NASA in December 1998, this robotic spacecraft was designed to study weather on Mars.

A design team used standard units (pounds- seconds) while a different design team used metric units (newtons- seconds). So instead of orbiting Mars, the spacecraft crashed to the surface of the red planet.

Cost of this mistake: $327 million dollars


Famous Bias and Errors in Science

Science

Canals on Mars

Astronomer: Percival Lowell

Notes SPI 0807.Inq.5 Bias and Error ScienceFamous Bias and Errors in Science

From 1894 to 1908 Percival studied the planet Mars with a large telescope.

He wrongly concluded that the features on Mars were canals built by extraterrestrials (Martians)


Percival was fascinated about the possibility of intelligent life on Mars.

He was biased about this.

He observed hazy images of the surface of Mars

His bias lead him to make significant errors about what he saw.

Later observations by others confirmed that there are no canals or signs of intelligent Martian life.

Famous Bias and Errors in Science

Questions ScienceSPI 0807.Inq.5 Bias and Error

Tennessee SPI Objective: Identify a faulty interpretation of data that is due to bias or...

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