1. Lecture Notes 2 Biology A Eaton Rapids High School K.Coppins

2. I. What is the Scientific Method? A. ___________________________________ A. ___________________________________ ______________________________________ B. ___________________________________ B. _________________________________________________________________________ Organized approach for studying any topic of interest. Series of general steps followed by scientists as they work.

3. II. Steps of the Scientific Method A. ____________________________ A. ____________________________ 1. Find something interesting to you. 1. Find something interesting to you. 2. Observe it. 2. Observe it. 3. Figure out what is interesting you so much and decide that you want to learn more. 3. Figure out what is interesting you so much and decide that you want to learn more. The Big Question

4. II. Steps of the Scientific Method B. ____________________________ B. ____________________________ 1. What do you already know? 1. What do you already know? 2. What do other people already know? 2. What do other people already know? 3. What can you add to this knowledge? 3. What can you add to this knowledge? Research

5. II. Steps of the Scientific Method C. ____________________________ C. ____________________________ 1. Come up with a _________________. 1. Come up with a _________________. This is a statement of what you think is correct. You will try to find evidence to support this idea. A hypothesis may not require experiments, but instead further research into what is known. Perform experiment hypothesis

6. II. Steps of the Scientific Method C. Perform Experiments C. Perform Experiments 2. Parts of an experiment—an experiment should be reproducible. 2. Parts of an experiment—an experiment should be reproducible. a. _____________: What you need to perform the experiment. a. _____________: What you need to perform the experiment. b. _____________: Detailed step-by- step instructions, including all measurements, that allow anyone to understand and exactly copy you. b. _____________: Detailed step-by- step instructions, including all measurements, that allow anyone to understand and exactly copy you. Procedure Materials

7. II. Steps of the Scientific Method C. Perform Experiments C. Perform Experiments 2. Parts of an experiment—an experiment should be reproducible. 2. Parts of an experiment—an experiment should be reproducible. c. __________: A standard for comparison. How do you know if anything new happened without something to compare? c. __________: A standard for comparison. How do you know if anything new happened without something to compare? d. ______________________: What you are changing. All other aspects of the experiment should be constant. d. ______________________: What you are changing. All other aspects of the experiment should be constant. Independent Variable Control

8. II. Steps of the Scientific Method D. ________________________ D. ________________________ 1. Data are facts, observations, and measurements. 1. Data are facts, observations, and measurements. 2. Anything that changes as a result of the independent variable is called a dependent variable. 2. Anything that changes as a result of the independent variable is called a dependent variable. E. ________________________ E. ________________________ 1. Does data support or refute hypothesis? 1. Does data support or refute hypothesis? 2. Does this data suggest any trends? 2. Does this data suggest any trends? 3. Does this answer The Big Question, or are more experiments required? 3. Does this answer The Big Question, or are more experiments required? Gather Data Draw Conclusions

9. III. Trying it out A. ____________________ A. ____________________ B. ____________________ B. ____________________ C. ____________________ C. ____________________ 1. _____________________ 1. _____________________ 2. _____________________ 2. _____________________ 3. _____________________ 3. _____________________ 4. _____________________ 4. _____________________ 5. _____________________ 5. _____________________ The Big Question Research Perform experiment Hypothesis Materials Procedure Control Independent Variable

10. III. Trying it out D. ____________________ D. ____________________ 1. _________________________________ 1. _________________________________ 2. _______________________ 2. _______________________ E. _____________________ E. _____________________ 1. _________________________________ 1. ____________________________________________________________________ 2. _________________________________ 2. _________________________________ 3. _________________________________ 3. _________________________________ Gather Data Draw Conclusions Make measurements/observations Record data Does the data support or refute the hypothesis? Are there any obvious trends? Does it answer The Big Question?