1. How do you conduct scientific research?
Bellringer 9/7
How do you conduct scientific research?

2. Science
The goal of science is to understand the world around us.
Biology
Study of living things

3. UNIT 1.1: THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The SCIENTIFIC METHOD uses a series of steps to solve problems.
All scientists try to solve problems in the same way.
This allows experiments to be repeated and verified.
If your experiment can’t be repeated with the same results, it is not valid.

4. AN IDEAL EXPERIMENT.. Can be repeated with the same results
Has a large sample size
Is performed over a long time
Tests only ONE variable and has a control
Is peer reviewed (critiqued by other scientists)
Is objective (not based on opinion or biased)
Does not necessarily have data that supports the hypothesis

5. DESIGNING AN EXPERIMENT
Define the problem
Form a hypothesis
Define the variables
Describe the materials and conditions
4. Perform the experiment
5. Collect data
6. Interpret the data
7. Draw a conclusion

7. Scientific Method 1.) Define the Problem 2.) Hypothesis
What is the question? (ex: How does fertilizer affect tulips?)
Look up information about the topic
2.) Hypothesis
Educated guess or prediction
Must be a testable statement, NOT a question
Ex: If I add more fertilizer, then the tulips will grow taller.

8. Scientific Method 3.) Define variables
The independent variable is what is being tested.
Ex: amount of fertilizer
What “I” change
Only test 1 variable at a time
Graphed on the X axis
The dependent variable is the data you collect
Ex: height of tulips
It depends on the independent variable
Always graphed on the Y axis

9. Draw a graph and label the independent and dependent variables.

11. Scientific Method 3.) Materials and conditions
What is needed for the experiment?
Tulip bulbs, soil, pots, water, fertilizer
What conditions must be kept the same?
Water, soil, light, temperature, etc.
What will be changed (independent)?
Amount of fertilizer
What will be measured (dependent)?
Height of tulips

12. Scientific Method 4.) Perform Experiment
The experimental groups are the ones getting the independent variable (ex: tulips with different amounts of fertilizer)
A control group has “normal conditions” and does not have the independent variable (ex: tulips with no fertilizer).
Used to compare results to see if the independent variable actually had an effect.

14. Scientific Method Plant 1 45 g. soil 50 mL H2O Sun Med. Pot 0 Fert

15. Scientific Method Day 0 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Plant 1 3 cm 3.3 cm 3.5 cm
5.) Collect Data
Make observations and measurements during the experiment
Organize results into data tables and graphs
Day 0
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Plant 1
3 cm
3.3 cm
3.5 cm
3.7 cm
Plant 2
3.2 cm
3.6 cm
3.8 cm
Plant 3
3.4 cm
3.9 cm
Plant 4
4.1 cm

16. Scientific Method Day 0 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Plant 1 3 cm 3.3 cm 3.5 cm
6.) Interpret the data
Compare experimental groups’ results to control group’s results
Are there any patterns?
Day 0
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Plant 1
3 cm
3.3 cm
3.5 cm
3.7 cm
Plant 2
3.2 cm
3.6 cm
3.8 cm
Plant 3
3.4 cm
3.9 cm
Plant 4
4.1 cm

17. Scientific Method 7.) Conclusion
Did the data support the hypothesis? Why/why not?
Describe if anything went wrong
Suggest new experiment ideas or hypotheses to repeat the experiment

18. Bellringer 9/12
I want to see how a new pain medicine works compared with Advil. I have 500 people with lower back pain who volunteered to be in my study. Half of them are given the new drug and half are given Advil.
What are 3 things that should be controlled for in both groups?

19. Ex: cell theory, germ theory, evolution, atomic theory
Scientific Theories:
Explanations that apply to a broad range of phenomena and are supported by experimental evidence
Attempts to explain everything about a phenomenon including its cause
Ex: cell theory, germ theory, evolution, atomic theory

20. **THEORIES AND LAWS CAN CHANGE IF NEW EVIDENCE IS FOUND**
Scientific Laws
Do not explain how or why something happens, only that it does
Ex: Law of Gravitation, Newton’s Laws
**THEORIES AND LAWS CAN CHANGE IF NEW EVIDENCE IS FOUND**