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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Draw a graph and label the independent and dependent variables.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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?

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

**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**