1. SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
Brainpop-Sci Method

2. How do you design an experiment?
Your friend is always trying to make money. He says, “I think if we grow some flowers under red light, the flowers will be red and we can cell them for Valentine’s Day.”
How could you design an experiment to test this idea?

3. A. Problem/Purpose
The question the lab will answer

4. A. Problem/Purpose Identifies the independent and dependent variables
Independent variable
The factor the scientist changes
Dependent variable
The factor the scientist measures to see the effect of the independent variable

5. Fill it in …
IV:
DV:

6. B. Research/Background Information
Lets the reader learn about the topic
Helps the scientist develop an educated hypothesis

7. C. Hypothesis An educated prediction
Can be tested, proven false, and agrees with research
If __(IV)__, then __(DV)__

8. D. Procedure/Experiment
Steps must be precise and detailed

9. D. Procedure/Experiment
Has at least one control group
Normal conditions or absence of independent variable
Used for comparison
Experimental group(s) have only one changing variable (the IV)

10. E. Observations/Data Must be objective
Good example: The bacterial colony is yellow.
Bad example: The bacterial colony is nasty

11. E. Observations/Data Use measurements whenever possible
Good example: There are 50 bacterial colonies
Bad example: There are a whole bunch of bacterial colonies

12. E. Observations/Data
Do not draw conclusions in the data section of the report
Good example: There are bacteria & fungal colonies in the shoe section
Bad example: The shoe was really dirty and so it was the most contaminated and grew a lot of stuff

13. E. Observations/Data Should be organized
May use a graph, table, or drawing(s)
Always include units of measurement and a title

14. F. Analysis/Conclusions
Answers the purpose question
Accepts or rejects the hypothesis
Explains what can be inferred from the data

15. Fill it in …
Six Steps of the Scientific Method:
Sci Method Song

16. How do we know it is “good science”?
Scientific knowledge must be shared, which allows other scientists to repeat and verify the work of others (peer review)

17. How do we know it is “good science”?
Scientific knowledge is tentative
Theories are the most logical explanation based on current evidence, become stronger as more evidence is gathered, and give us a basis for prediction
Laws are universal generalizations that are virtually unchanging
Theories explain, laws predict

18. Krabb Patty Power
Mr. Krabbs wants to make Bikini Bottoms a nicer place to live. He has created a new sauce that he thinks will reduce the production of body gas associated with eating crabby patties from the Krusty Krabb. He recruits 100 customers with a history of gas problems. He has 50 of them (Group A) eat crabby patties with the new sauce. The other 50 (Group B) eat crabby patties with sauce that looks just like new sauce but is really just mixture of mayonnaise and food coloring. Both groups were told that they were getting the sauce that would reduce gas production. Two hours after eating the crabby patties, 30 customers in group A reported having fewer gas problems and 8 customers in group B reported having fewer gas problems.
Which people are in the control group?
What is the independent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
What should Mr. Krabbs’ conclusion be?
Why do you think 8 people in group B reported feeling better?

19. Mr. Mandarich wanted to see if the color of light shined on a plant had an effect on the number of leaves it had. He gathered a group of the same species of plants, gave them the same amount of water, and did the test for the same amount of time. Only the color of light was changed.
Independent variable:
Dependent variable:
Constants:
Control group (What would Mr. Mandarich use as a control group?):

20. Check Yourself!
Which step of the scientific method is used to develop a hypothesis?
Which step is an educated prediction about the outcome of the experiment?
In the experiment, “the effect of nicotine on the heart rate of a cat?” …
The independent variable is ________________
The dependent variable is __________________
The control group would most likely be ________

21. Check Yourself!
Which step of the scientific method is used to develop a hypothesis? RESEARCH/BG INFO
Which step is an educated prediction about the outcome of the experiment?
In the experiment, “the effect of nicotine on the heart rate of a cat?” …
The independent variable is ________________
The dependent variable is __________________
The control group would most likely be ________

22. Check Yourself!
Which step of the scientific method is used to develop a hypothesis? RESEARCH/BG INFO
Which step is an educated prediction about the outcome of the experiment? HYPOTHESIS
In the experiment, “the effect of nicotine on the heart rate of a cat?” …
The independent variable is ________________
The dependent variable is __________________
The control group would most likely be ________

23. Check Yourself!
Which step of the scientific method is used to develop a hypothesis? RESEARCH/BG INFO
Which step is an educated prediction about the outcome of the experiment? HYPOTHESIS
In the experiment, “the effect of nicotine on the heart rate of a cat?” …
The independent variable is THE NICOTINE
The dependent variable is __________________
The control group would most likely be ________

24. Check Yourself!
Which step of the scientific method is used to develop a hypothesis? RESEARCH/BG INFO
Which step is an educated prediction about the outcome of the experiment? HYPOTHESIS
In the experiment, “the effect of nicotine on the heart rate of a cat?” …
The independent variable is THE NICOTINE
The dependent variable is THE HEART RATE
The control group would most likely be ________

25. Check Yourself!
Which step of the scientific method is used to develop a hypothesis? RESEARCH/BG INFO
Which step is an educated prediction about the outcome of the experiment? HYPOTHESIS
In the experiment, “the effect of nicotine on the heart rate of a cat?” …
The independent variable is THE NICOTINE
The dependent variable is THE HEART RATE
The control group would most likely be CAT(S) WITH NO NICOTINE