Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

Warm Up Unit 1 Day 4 •How is a guess different from an educated guess and how is a theory different from a hypothesis?

Warm Up Answer Day 4 A guess would be based on no information whatsoever. An educated guess is a hypothesis which is an explanation based on prior scientific research or observations that can be tested. A scientific theory is an explanation based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning.

Scientific Method

Observe

Observe

Question

Collect Data

(What do you see?)

(What do you wonder?)

(What do you know?)

Hypothesiz e (What do you think?)

(Also found on page 1 of the Skills & Methods packet)

Experiment

Analyze

Conclude

(What does nature do?)

(What does nature say?)

(Does nature agree?)

Test

(Are you correct?)

Share (What do others think?)

Scientific NonScientific

Validate (Do others agree?)

The “Spectrum of Certainty”

Observation

Guess

Scientific Revolution New Insight or Discovery Experimentation Verification Reliability

Hypothesis

Conclusion

Theory

Law

Increasing Evidence / Time

We test (experiment) to uncover more evidence! It is the job of science to disprove theories!

Scientific Means… “FiLCHeRS” Falsifiable “Is there a test that could prove it wrong?”

Logical “Is the evidence logical and follow from it’s premises?”

Comprehensive “Is all possible evidence is available to help support the claim?”

“FiLCHeRS” cont. Honesty “All evidence must be evaluated without selfdeception.”

Replicable “Can others reproduce the same results?”

Sufficiency “Is it supported by observed and verified evidence?”

Science vs. Pseudoscience

Horoscope Activity

1. Using the lab table numbers 1 through 12, group yourselves according to your horoscopes. 2. In your group, read through each of the 12 descriptions and identify which number you believe corresponds to your zodiacal sign.

Ophiuchus…the 13 sign. th

Ophiuchus, formerly referred to as Serpentarius the former originating in Greek and the latter in Latin, both meaning "serpent-holder," is one of the 88 constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. Of the 13 zodiacal constellations (constellations that contain the Sun during the course of the year), Ophiuchus is the only one not counted as an astrological sign. The Sun is in Ophiuchus from November 30th until December 17th.

Designing an Experiment • Decide what it is you are investigating. – What do I want to observe?

• Identify and choose variables. – What factors might influence what I am observing? – Which ones do I want to test?

• Determine how you will measure. – How can I accurately measure what I am testing?

• Choose a control condition. – What set of conditions will I compare everything else to?

• Decide which conditions to test. – How will I change the variables that I want to test?

• Determine what will be an adequate amount of data. – How much data will I need to form an accurate conclusion?

Getting Reliable Data • • • •

Set a control condition. Test only one variable at a time. Perform multiple trials for each condition. Have multiple experimenters repeat your experiment. • Identify and address sources of error.

Mystery Device • • • • • • •

Observe Question Collect Data Hypothesize Experiment Analyze Conclude

Procedure: 1) Pull on one item and predict which other item(s) are going to move. 2) Repeat until you have 8 tests and you think you know how the tube looks inside. Data: Test

Hypothesis

Pull on magnet Only the stopper will move

Observation

Mysterious Conclusions Draw a picture of what you think the inside of the tube looks like. Write a paragraph describing why you think you have the answer.

Closure – Day 4 What types of future issues surrounding the world do you think science will play a role in answering?