Sometimes Involves Chance… SCIENCE…. Values Theories Is Testable Is Empirical IS A CREATIVE ENDEAVOR Science is a way of knowing, but not the only way of knowing Sometimes Involves Chance… IS LOGICAL Values Curiosity

“The Scientific Method”

The Scientific Method is: A logical, thorough, yet simple approach to answer a question or solve a problem Used by the science community- professionals, researchers, professors, educators, students, etc. (But not limited to) Not only testable but reproducible “Data-Driven” CONSISTENT!!

Scientific Method is/does NOT: Made of only one “correct” series of steps Consist of clearly defined or precise steps The “end all, tell all” solution for any one specific problem

Here are the basics: Think of the scientific method in terms of these 4 parts: Problem Hypothesis Experiment Conclusion

The Problem “Observing the world around you is the foundation of scientific investigation.” Is the whole purpose of doing an experiment Often state as a question

The Hypothesis: NOT a random guess!! It is an EDUCATED GUESS based on observations and prior scientific knowledge Answers the problem Need to include WHAT you are testing and WHAT you think will happen

The Experiment 1. Defining variables 2. Gathering materials Has many parts: 1. Defining variables 2. Gathering materials 3. Writing the procedure 4. Performing the experiment 5. Gathering data Lets review some of the crucial information:

Variables: INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (IV)= what is being tested (purposely changed) DEPENDENT VARIABLE (DV)= what is measured (the variable that responds) Control = The item tested without any changes (used to compare) Constants= all the factors that are kept the same from one test to another

Data: Can be one of two types: 1. Qualitative= description (uses the senses) 2. Quantitative = measurement (uses numbers and units) Needs to be displayed in a chart or graph Wearing a blue jersey Height: 6’9’’ Weight: 215lbs Best in the league #35 Avg. 27.4 ppg

The Conclusion Restate the problem and your hypothesis Explain what happened and state whether or not your hypothesis was correct State or recognize areas of experimental error and describe any further testing needed

What the scientific method really looks like:

Ok, so why does this really matter? BLAH, BLAH, BLAH…… Ok, so why does this really matter?

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”

The Paper Airplane Experiment: Defining Variables Everything kept the same except for the one item being tested. A variable is something that is changed to study how this change effects what is being studied. Independent variable (IV) - the variable that is purposely changed by the experimenter. (what is being tested) Dependent variable (DV) - the variable that responds and is the variable measured. (what changes because of the experiment)

The Paper Airplane Experiment: Variables Cont’d Control: the item that is being tested with no changes, used to compare Constant (C) - all factors that are kept the same during the experiment. Repeated trials – the number of objects/organisms undergoing treatment for each value of the independent variable, or the number of times the experiment is repeated.