Biology IBiology IMr. NettlesMr. Nettles

Agenda- Tuesday, August Agenda- Tuesday, August 16, 201116, 2011

1. Warm Up– 5 min1. Warm Up– 5 min

2. “Steps of the Scientific 2. “Steps of the Scientific Method” – 40 minMethod” – 40 min

3. Wrap Up– 5 minutes3. Wrap Up– 5 minutes

Warm UpWarm Up

1.1. What does biology formerly What does biology formerly mean?mean?

2.2. Give another definition in your Give another definition in your own words.own words.

3.3. Using at least three sentences, Using at least three sentences, describe some aspect of biology describe some aspect of biology that you saw on your way to that you saw on your way to school this morning.school this morning.

Today’s Today’s ObjectivesObjectives

I will understand the steps I will understand the steps involved in the scientific involved in the scientific method.method.

I will understand the meanings I will understand the meanings of the vocabulary terms of the vocabulary terms quantitative and qualitative.quantitative and qualitative.

Steps of the Scientific MethodSteps of the Scientific Method

The The Scientific Scientific MethodMethod is a is a

series of steps series of steps that scientists that scientists

agree are a agree are a logical way to logical way to

perform an perform an experiment. experiment.

We shall take a We shall take a closer look at closer look at

these steps and these steps and the terminology the terminology you will need to you will need to

understand understand before you before you

start a science start a science project.project.

1.1. State the Problem or QuestionState the Problem or Question

2.2. Make Observations or Do ResearchMake Observations or Do Research

3.3. Form a HypothesisForm a Hypothesis

4.4. Test your Hypothesis or Test your Hypothesis or ExperimentExperiment

5.5. Collect and Analyze ResultsCollect and Analyze Results

6.6. State your ConclusionState your Conclusion

7.7. Communicate the ResultsCommunicate the Results

Steps of the Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method

1. 1. State the Problem: Develop a question or problem that can be

solved through experimentation.

Steps of the Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method

2. 2. Make Observations or Do Research: Get

information. Gather the “411”.

Key Point 1Key Point 1Observations are made with your five Observations are made with your five senses: sight, taste, hear, touch, smell.senses: sight, taste, hear, touch, smell.

Observations are Observations are QuantitativeQuantitative if they if they use numbers and use numbers and QualitativeQualitative if they use if they use descriptions.descriptions.

Observations are made while you are Observations are made while you are gathering informationgathering information

Critical Thinking Critical Thinking ExampleExample

PROBLEM: Why are students PROBLEM: Why are students always late to class?always late to class?

What is a quantitative What is a quantitative observation for this situation?observation for this situation?

What is a qualitative What is a qualitative observation for this situation?observation for this situation?

Steps of the Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method

3. 3. Form a Hypothesis: Predict a possible answer to the

problem or question. This is usually written as a

statement.

Example: If soil temperatures rise, then plant growth will

increase.

Steps of the Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method4. 4. Test you Hypothesis or Experiment: Develop and follow a procedure to test

your hypothesis.Include a detailed materials

list.The outcome must be

measurable (quantifiable).

Steps of the Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method

5. 5. Collect and Analyze Collect and Analyze ResultsResults: Modify the : Modify the

procedure if needed.procedure if needed.

Confirm the results by Confirm the results by retesting.retesting.

Include tables, graphs, Include tables, graphs, and photographs.and photographs.

Steps of the Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method

6. 6. State your Conclusion: : Include a statement Include a statement

that accepts or rejects that accepts or rejects the hypothesis.the hypothesis.

Make recommendations Make recommendations for further study and for further study and

possible improvements possible improvements to the procedure.to the procedure.

Steps of the Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method

7. 7. Communicate the Communicate the ResultsResults: Be prepared to : Be prepared to present the project to present the project to

an audience.an audience.

Expect questions from Expect questions from the audience. the audience.

Let’s put our knowledge of the Let’s put our knowledge of the Scientific Method to a Scientific Method to a realistic example that realistic example that

includes some of the terms includes some of the terms you’ll need to use and you’ll need to use and

understand.understand.

SHOULD MY FRIEND SHOULD MY FRIEND DATE TAYLOR DATE TAYLOR

SWIFT?SWIFT?Using the Scientific Method…Using the Scientific Method…

What’s the first step?What’s the first step?

Step 1: State the Step 1: State the Problem or Problem or Question!Question!

Should my friend date Should my friend date Taylor Swift?Taylor Swift?

Next step?Next step?

Step 2: Make Step 2: Make Observations or Do Observations or Do

ResearchResearchPROS:PROS:

PrettyPretty

Has a lot of Has a lot of moneymoney

Grammy-Grammy-award winning award winning artistartist

Lives in Lives in NashvilleNashville

CONS:CONS:

May be in a May be in a relationshiprelationship

She may She may think he is think he is stalkerstalker

Step 3: Write a Step 3: Write a hypothesis.hypothesis.

If my friend dates Taylor Swift, then he If my friend dates Taylor Swift, then he will be happier! (and so will she) will be happier! (and so will she)

Step 4: Test your Step 4: Test your Hypothesis or Hypothesis or ExperimentExperiment

Independent Variable: Dating TaylorIndependent Variable: Dating Taylor

Dependent Variable: How much happier Dependent Variable: How much happier my friend gets than if he didn’t date hermy friend gets than if he didn’t date her

Control: Not going on a date with TaylorControl: Not going on a date with Taylor

Variable: Date with TaylorVariable: Date with Taylor

Step 5: Collect and Step 5: Collect and Analyze ResultsAnalyze Results

Measure his happiness from the control. Measure his happiness from the control. (No date with Taylor)(No date with Taylor)

Measure his happiness from the Measure his happiness from the variable. (Date with Taylor doing the variable. (Date with Taylor doing the same thing he was doing alone)same thing he was doing alone)

Compare happiness.Compare happiness.

Step 6: State your Step 6: State your conclusion.conclusion.

If my friend dates Taylor Swift then he will be If my friend dates Taylor Swift then he will be happier! (and so will she)happier! (and so will she)

CONFIRMED!CONFIRMED!

Step 7: Communicate Step 7: Communicate the Resultsthe Results

BRAG about your date with BRAG about your date with Taylor Swift to your friends!Taylor Swift to your friends!

Wrap-Up ActivityWrap-Up Activity

What are the 7 steps of the What are the 7 steps of the scientific method?scientific method?

What is a quantitative What is a quantitative observation?observation?

What is a qualitative What is a qualitative observation?observation?