SCIENTIFIC METHOD SCIENTIFIC METHOD Scientific Method common steps

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

SCIENTIFIC METHOD • Scientific Method: common steps that scientists use to gather information and answer questions • Used mainly for cause and effect problems

VARIABLES IN AN EXPERIMENT • A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types (anything that can change in an experiment) • Standard/Constant Variable: The variables that remains constant (The same and not changed): your ‘original’ to compare your results to- you don’t change ANYTHING in this key word: same • Independent Variable: The variable that can be ‘changed’ by the scientist • Key word: different • Dependent Variable: The response/resulting data from the experiment • Key words: data, recorded, measurement

LET’S PRACTICE…. 1) Gloria wanted to find out if the color of a food would affect whether kindergarten children would select that food for lunch. She put food coloring into 5 identical bowls of mashed potatoes and offered the food to the children. The potatoes had the same temperature and taste. The colors were plain, red, green, yellow, and blue. Gloria did this experiment using 100 students. She recorded the number of children that chose each color. Identify the… Independent Variable: Color of mashed potatoes Dependent Variable: Number of kids choosing that potato Standard Variable: Same temperature and taste

CONTROL GROUP • The group where nothing has been experimented on – the ‘original’ group to compare results to the experimented groups

LET’S PRACTICE…. 1) Gloria wanted to find out if the color of a food would affect whether kindergarten children would select that food for lunch. She put food coloring into 5 identical bowls of mashed potatoes and offered the food to the children. The potatoes had the same temperature and taste. The colors were plain, red, green, yellow, and blue. Gloria did this experiment using 100 students. She recorded then umber of children that chose each color. Identify the… Independent Variable: Color of mashed potatoes Dependent Variable: Number of kids choosing that potato Standard Variable: Same temperature and taste Control Group: Plain colored mash potates

OBSERVATION VS. INFERENCE • Observation (def. ): gathering of information by using our senses � Qualitative � Quantitative • Inference (def. ): an explanation for an observation that you have made • Use past experiences and/or prior knowledge • Can change after the new observation is made

EXAMPLE • Observation: The grass on the school’s front lawn is wet • Possible inferences: • It rained • The sprinkler was on • There is dew on the grass from the morning • A dog urinated on the grass • All of these inferences can POSSIBLY explain why the grass is wet. They are all based on prior experiences.

YOUR TURN • Observation: The school fire alarm is going off. • Possible Inferences?

QUANTITATIVE VS. QUALITATIVE • Qualitative: information that describes a physical characteristics • Ex: color, odor, shape • Can use your five senses • Quantitative: numerical information • Ex: how big, how tall, temperature, volume,

PRACTICE -QUALITATIVE OR QUANTITATIVE? � 1. A blue car: Qualitative � 2. Five pound pork chop: Quantitative � 3. Black Coffee: Qualitative � 4. Large Elephant: Qualitative � 5. Lavender-scented Candle: Qualitative � 6. Water that is 100 degrees Fahrenheit: Quantitative � 7. A worm that is 16 centimeters: Quantitative � 8. 68 year old painting: Quantitative � 9. Eighty milliliters of acid: Quantitative � 10. Round object: Qualitative

HYPOTHESIS • Hypothesis: An Educated Guess • It’s your own idea, doesn’t have to be right! • Written in the form of “If…. then…” • Formula for Hypothesis: • If __(Independent Variable)___, then __ (Dependent Variable)___ • Ex: IF students came to class everyday, THEN they would all pass their biology class

PRACTICE • Scenario: All the fish in the tank died • My own idea: Maybe the water has bad chemicals • Hypothesis: If I change the water conditions, then the fish won’t die.

LET’S PRACTICE…. • • 1) Your grandmother’s cell phone won’t turn on 2) I can’t hear any music out of my ear buds 3) The light in my bedroom won’t turn on 4) There is no water coming out of the kitchen faucet 5) I always get a bad grade on my science tests 6) My house is really cold this morning 7) My car won’t start 8) My little brother just broke out in hives (a rash)

STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Step 1: Observation Step 2: Hypothesis Step 3: Experiment Step 4: Data Step 5: Analyze (Examine/Study) Results Step 6: Conclusion(Report Results)

SCIENTIFIC METHOD Only (Observation) Hippos (Hypothesis) Eat (Experiment) Danish (Data/Results) Ant (Analyze/Study Results) Cakes (Conclusion)