Ch. 1 Section 2 Scientific Inquiry Key Concepts Hypothesis What is scientific inquiry? Variable Manipulated variable What makes a hypothesis testable? Responding variable Operational definition What attitudes are important in science? Data Communicating Key Terms (write in your ISN with enough room to define): Scientific inquiry

The “Scientific Process” How should we define “scientific inquiry”? Scientific inquiry refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on the evidence they gather. What are the steps to “scientific inquiry”? Posing Questions Developing a hypothesis Designing an experiment Collecting and interpreting data Drawing conclusions Communicating

How to learn this section: This section tells you how scientists use the scientific method (called scientific inquiry in your textbook). We’re going to practice designing experiments so you can see the process at work. As you learn the experiment process, I hope that memorizing the steps will be easier for you because you will understand them 1st hand. If you don’t understand a part of the process, ask 

The scientific process starts with observations or posing questions The scientific process starts with observations or posing questions! Both will be considered correct on the exam.

The steps… explained! Posing Questions Begin with a problem or question about an observation Developing a hypothesis Hypothesis: a possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a specific scientific question. Must be testable. What makes a hypothesis testable?

The Steps… continued… Designing an experiment Variables – factors that can change in an experiment Controlled experiment – an experiment in which only one variable is changed at a time Collecting and interpreting data Data – facts, figures, and other evidence obtained through observations Drawing conclusions Communicating - sharing ideas and experimental findings with others

Variables and Operational Definition Manipulated variable Also called “independent variable” The one variable that is purposefully changed to test a hypothesis Responding variable Also called “dependent variable” The factor that may change in response to the manipulated variable Operational definition (this will not be on the test) A statement that describes how to measure a variable or define a term.

Let’s put figure 9 on page 17 in our ISNs Why is “pose questions” at the center? Scientists possess certain important attitudes, or habits of mind, including curiosity, honesty, open-mindedness, skepticism, and creativity. What DOES make a hypothesis testable? Let’s design some experiments and find out --

Skills Activity page 16 Design an experiment to determine whether birds eat a larger number of sunflower seeds or millet seeds. What is your manipulated variable (what are you changing)? Type of seed What is your responding variable (what is being affected)? Number of seeds eaten What other variables would you need to control? Species of bird, number of birds, way in which the seeds are provided, type of container, time period birds have access to the seeds

Okay, so, like, basically… If you want to design an experiment: Make sure you know what you want to test. In this case, it was what type of seed was more desirable. So, you would test the type of seed (manipulated) against how many were eaten (responding). That will tell you… tada… which seed was more desirable. What might a resulting data graph look like??

A possible data chart for the experiment

Developing Hypotheses Propose a hypothesis that could explain the observation that crickets seem to be noisier on some nights than others. 1. Perhaps the cricket chirps more when the temp is higher Must be testable – is this testable? What is our manipulated variable? Air temperature What is our responding variable? Cricket chirps Why is this considered a controlled experiment? How do we set it up? How can we make sure it is “controlled”? Only one variable is being tested at a time: air temperature. We must control the number of crickets, food, etc.

Design an experiment with a partner in your ISN Choose one of the following: Write a hypothesis What boils faster – water, water with salt, water with sugar? Does temperature affect the life of a battery? What is the effect of music type on plant growth? What color water evaporates the fastest? What holds boards together better, a nail, a bolt, or a screw? Design your experiment What variables will you need to control? What is your manipulated variable? What is your responding variable? Predict your outcome What do you expect to happen?

Do you have questions? Ask me! Remember: when it comes to experiments, simplify. Make your hypothesis simple. Make your variables simple. Make your data collection simple. You want your results to be clear. If you have a lot of extraneous (not needed) information, it will be harder to read your results and know what really happened in your experiment. This does not need to be finished today, but get as much done as you can in your ISN. We may come back to it.

What you need to know from this section: The steps! The key terms! How to design an experiment! How to develop a hypothesis 

Practice questions: What is a hypothesis? What are data? What is classifying? Why is honesty important for scientists? Why is it important to control all variables except for one (in an experiment)? What is a testable hypothesis? What are graphs used for? Review! Practice with friends! Be able to speak about these things easily and clearly! You will be tested on chapter 1 sections 1 and 2 only. We will talk more about this tomorrow.