THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE Using the Scientific Method The Scientific Method A logical, organized way of solving problems. • Define the Problem • Collect Background Information • Form a Hypothesis • Test the Hypothesis • Make and Record Observations • Draw a Conclusion Defining the Problem & Collecting Background Information • Identify the problem. • Example: What are the effects of acid rain on salamanders? • Collect information about the problem. • Example: We should know the normal development of salamanders as well as the characteristics of areas that are affected by acid rain. FORMULATE A HYPOTHESIS • An educated guess • A proposed answer to the question or problem. • A statement that can be tested TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS p.1/2 • An experiment is a controlled procedure designed to test a hypothesis. • In an experiment, one variable, or condition, is changed and the response of another variable is measured. THE EXPERIMENT p.2/2 • Independent variable: the condition that is varied (or changed). • Dependent variable: the condition that responds to the changes in the I.V. • To be a controlled experiment, it must have two identical groups: • Experimental groupthe group that is exposed to the changes in the I.V. • Control group- the group that is not exposed to changes. MAKING & RECORDING OBSERVATIONS p. 1/4 • Must keep careful records. • Must state how the experiment was planned, carried out, materials & equipment used, and how long it took. • Must record all observations made. MAKING & RECORDING OBSERVATIONS p.2/4 Area D Area C Species 1 Species 2 Species 3 Area B 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Area A • May include: drawings, tables, graphs, diagrams, written observations, photographs or even sound recordings. OBSERVATIONS VS. INFERENCES p.3/4 • Observation- an • Inference- a examination of judgement based something in on your nature. Detected observation. It is by any of the five a personal senses. opinion. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS p.1/2 • The answer to a scientific question is formulated by drawing a conclusion based on data (scientific facts collected during the experiment) • Statistics help form the conclusion. CONCLUSIONS p.2/2 • Before accepting conclusions, scientists retest their hypotheses several times. Later other scientists repeat the experiment until the hypothesis and the conclusion are supported or rejected. LAW/THEORY p.1/2 • When a hypothesis explains how “facts of nature” occurs, it becomes scientific principle or law. Example: Law of Gravity • When a hypothesis explains why “natural” events occur through observations and investigations over a long period of time, it becomes a theory. Example: Theory of Evolution THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE Be ready for a quiz

The Process Of Science (Scientific Method)

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