Conclusions are reliable, but tentative

Science is not democratic

Science cannot make moral or aesthetic decisions

What is Science?Characteristics of Science

What is Science?Characteristics of Science

Fundamentals of Fundamentals of ScienceScience

Fundamentals of Fundamentals of ScienceScience

relies on evidence from the relies on evidence from the natural world which is natural world which is examined/interpreted logically examined/interpreted logically (lizards vs gnomes)(lizards vs gnomes)

follows a process guided by follows a process guided by parametersparameters

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method(Scientific Inquiry)(Scientific Inquiry)

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method(Scientific Inquiry)(Scientific Inquiry)

The way scientists study The way scientists study the natural world and the natural world and propose explanations propose explanations based on evidence.based on evidence.

3 Typical Questions3 Typical Questions3 Typical Questions3 Typical Questions

1.1. What’s there?What’s there?

2.2. How does it work?How does it work?

3.3. How did it come to be this How did it come to be this way?way?

QuestionsQuestionsQuestionsQuestions• Based on observations, inferences, curiosityBased on observations, inferences, curiosity• Gives the investigation a purposeGives the investigation a purpose• States what you are trying to find outStates what you are trying to find out• Helps focus next steps – test 1 thingHelps focus next steps – test 1 thing

• Examples of testable questions:Examples of testable questions:

1. 1. Which brand Which brand of toilet of toilet paper is the paper is the

strongest?strongest?

2. Do 2. Do dogs see in dogs see in color?color?

3. Who 3. Who can hit the can hit the most free most free throws in 10 throws in 10 tries? tries?

textbook active art

Steps of the Scientific MethodSteps of the Scientific MethodSteps of the Scientific MethodSteps of the Scientific MethodDo not write this slide!Do not write this slide!

These steps do not follow any set order!These steps do not follow any set order!• Make observationsMake observations• Ask a questionAsk a question• Form a hypothesisForm a hypothesis• Test your hypothesis/Make observationsTest your hypothesis/Make observations• Analyze the resultsAnalyze the results• Draw conclusions/infer/predictDraw conclusions/infer/predict• Communicate results to identify Communicate results to identify

alternative explanations/replicate resultsalternative explanations/replicate results

ObservationsObservationsObservationsObservations

• Use tools and equipment – Use tools and equipment – quantitative data quantitative data

• distance-rulerdistance-ruler• weight/mass-scale/balanceweight/mass-scale/balance• volume-graduated cylinder/measuring cupvolume-graduated cylinder/measuring cup• time-seconds/minutestime-seconds/minutes

• Information gathered with the Information gathered with the senses – qualitative datasenses – qualitative dataSightSight SoundSound SmellSmell

TouchTouch TasteTaste

ObservationsObservationsObservationsObservations

• Use tools and equipment – Use tools and equipment – quantitative data quantitative data

Examples: Examples: 1 meter wide1 meter wide 2 grams2 grams

35 mL35 mL 5 g/mL5 g/mL

20 seconds 20 seconds

• Information gathered with the Information gathered with the senses – qualitative datasenses – qualitative dataSmells like a rotten eggSmells like a rotten egg

Bigger than a pencil boxBigger than a pencil box

OpaqueOpaque

Soft and fuzzySoft and fuzzy

Reasonable & logical explanation based on observable facts (history of life)

Can be correct or incorrect – claims that don’t fit the evidence are rejected/modified/tested again

InferenceInference

Educated guess about what will happen (forecast) based on what you

know from past experience or evidence

predictionprediction

HypothesisHypothesisHypothesisHypothesis

• Possible answer to the question or explanation Possible answer to the question or explanation of observationsof observations

• An educated guessAn educated guess• Testable prediction or statementTestable prediction or statement

• I think if…, then…I think if…, then…

Testing the HypothesisTesting the Hypothesis(experimental design)(experimental design)Testing the HypothesisTesting the Hypothesis(experimental design)(experimental design)

• Gather data or informationGather data or information• Controlled experimentsControlled experiments

• Control experimental conditionsControl experimental conditions• Only one difference (variable) Only one difference (variable)

between the two conditionsbetween the two conditions

• Make careful observationsMake careful observations

Testing the HypothesisTesting the HypothesisTesting the HypothesisTesting the Hypothesis

• VARIABLEVARIABLE: One of the factors that can : One of the factors that can change in an experiment. change in an experiment.

• Control:Control: A part of the experiment that A part of the experiment that is not being manipulated and is used for is not being manipulated and is used for comparison.comparison.

Testing the HypothesisTesting the HypothesisTesting the HypothesisTesting the Hypothesis

• Manipulated (independent) Manipulated (independent) VariableVariable: The variable (one only) that a : The variable (one only) that a scientist changes in an experiment. The scientist changes in an experiment. The “I control” variable.“I control” variable.

• Responding (dependent) Variable:Responding (dependent) Variable: The variable that might change in The variable that might change in response to what the scientist changes. response to what the scientist changes. It’s what is being measured.It’s what is being measured.

Testing the HypothesisTesting the HypothesisTesting the HypothesisTesting the Hypothesis

Your hypothesis can TELL you what your variables are!

If (what is changed), then (expectation of outcome for what is being measured).

Ex. If I drink Mountain Dew before bed, then I will not sleep very much.

M/I Variable: Drinking Mountain Dew

R/D Variable: the amount of sleep

Data & Results AnalysisData & Results AnalysisData & Results AnalysisData & Results Analysis

• What information did you gather?What information did you gather?

• Facts, figures, observationsFacts, figures, observations

• Organize data using tablesOrganize data using tables

• Interpret data using graphs Interpret data using graphs (look for (look for patterns or trends)patterns or trends)

Data & Results AnalysisData & Results Analysis

Types of Graphs (all graphs need titles!)See textbook page 526-528

Line graph – shows how the responding variable changes in response to the manipulated variable; use when manipulated variable is continuous

Bar & Circle graph – shows data in several separate categories

ConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusions

• What do the results tell me?What do the results tell me?• Does it support the hypothesis?Does it support the hypothesis?• If yes, If yes, communicate results!communicate results!

• If no, If no, • Repeat investigationRepeat investigation• Form new hypothesisForm new hypothesis

• If no conclusion, If no conclusion, • Get more dataGet more data

ConclusionsConclusionsConclusionsConclusions• HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS: A proposed explanation for a : A proposed explanation for a

set of observations or answer to a scientific set of observations or answer to a scientific question that can be tested.question that can be tested.

• THEORYTHEORY: A well-tested scientific concept that : A well-tested scientific concept that explains a wide range of observations; it has explains a wide range of observations; it has been tested repeatedly and found to be true.been tested repeatedly and found to be true.

Cell theory, evolutionary theoryCell theory, evolutionary theory• LAWLAW: Describes what is expected to happen : Describes what is expected to happen

every time under a particular set of conditions; every time under a particular set of conditions; does not provide an explanation for it.does not provide an explanation for it.

Newton’s laws of gravity, Bernoulli’s law of fluid dynamicsNewton’s laws of gravity, Bernoulli’s law of fluid dynamics

Communicate ResultsCommunicate ResultsCommunicate ResultsCommunicate Results

• Scientists publish their work in scientific Scientists publish their work in scientific journals and give lectures (writing and journals and give lectures (writing and speaking).speaking).

• Inventors patent their ideas so others Inventors patent their ideas so others cannot steal them or take credit for cannot steal them or take credit for them.them.

SourcesSourcesSourcesSources

• UCMP: Understanding Evolution WebsiteUCMP: Understanding Evolution Websitehttp://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/nature_01