What is the scientific method?
■It is a simple method scientists use to conduct an investigation.
■It is a way to ask & answer scientific questions by asking questions & conducting experiments.
Problem
■Clearly stated in QUESTION FORM – Why? – How? – What?
■How do Jumping Jacks affect heart rate?
Information■Exercise raises the heart rate in the short
term ■Exercise causes the body to need more
energy, more glucose must be broken down and processed into usable energy for cells
■More intense exercise causes the need for more oxygen, more quickly. To keep up the heart pumps blood faster, resulting in a higher heart rate.
Information■What factors affect the problem
■Observations- things that you can see, hear, smell, taste, or feel – Ex. Workouts include jumping jacks
■Inferences- conclusion based on your observations – Ex. Jumping jacks are a good form of exercise
Hypothesis
Experiment
■Tests your hypothesis. ■ Independent Variable- what the experimenter
changes ■Dependent Variable- what you measure (the
response to the change) ■Constants- things that stay the SAME ■Control group- group used for comparison ■Experimental Group- group that the IV is
applied to
Experimental Procedure1. Measure your resting heart rate and record
the number of beats per minute. 2. Group 1 will complete one minute of
jumping jacks. Group 2 will sit in their seats for one minute.
3. Both groups will immediately measure their heart rate and record the number of beats per minute.
4. Each group will calculate their change in heart rate.
Calculate your change in heart rate
■ (Heart rate after 1 minute) – (Resting Heart Rate)
Experiment EXAMPLE■Independent Variable- no jumping jacks
vs. jumping jacks ■Dependent Variable- change heart rate ■Constants- same person, same method
of taking heart rate, same amount of time ■Control group- not completing jumping
jacks ■Experimental Group- completing jumping
jacks
Data
■Numerical Observations ■ Arranged in tables and graphs
Group Heart Rate
(beats per minute)
No Jumping Jacks 100
Jumping Jacks 60
DataHeart Rate (beats
per minute)
0
50
100
Jumping JacksNo Jumping Jacks
Heart Rate (beats per minute)
V. Conclusion
■Analyze the data – Do you accept or reject your hypothesis?
■Evaluate the research
What next??
■If you reject your hypothesis (not supported), you modify your hypothesis and complete the experiment again!
■If you accept your hypothesis (supported), you REPEAT the experiment several times to gather more data
The Bald Baby Experiment
Also known as:
Prove Marks Mother in Law Wrong (A class excercise)
■My Mother in-law swears we should have shaved our newborn baby bald for his hair to thicken. She’s not the only one who believes in this practice.
■What is her general hypothesis? ■Where do you fall? ■How would you create an experiment to
prove your belief?
REMEMBER THESE STEPS!
■PEOPLE Problem ■IN Information ■HERSHEY Hypothesis ■EAT Experiment ■DARK Data ■CHOCOLATE Conclusions