Scientific Inquiry Notes How Scientists Solve Problems
Learning Scale 4 (All of 3 +) – Evaluate a scientific investigation based on the evidence provided. 3 (All of 2 +) – Interpret and analyze data. Describe and analyze the methods used in science. 2 (All of 1 +) – Differentiate between test and outcome variables. Differentiate between repetition and replication. 1 - Identify and describe the steps of scientific inquiry.
Step 1: Pose a Question You must be able to answer the question by making observations. Example: How is a shadow affected by the light’s position? Non Example: Which photo looks the most interesting?
Step 2: Form a Hypothesis A hypothesis is an educated guess. A hypothesis must be testable by observation or experiment. Example: The heavier an object is the faster it will fall to earth.
John wants to know which ball bounces higher John wants to know which ball bounces higher. He has a golf ball, bouncy ball, and tennis ball. What could his hypothesis be? I think the bouncy ball will bounce higher. The golf ball will bounce higher than the tennis ball. If the balls are dropped, then they will bounce because they are elastic. If the tennis ball is dropped, then it will bounce higher because it contains more rubber material.
John wants to know which ball bounces higher John wants to know which ball bounces higher. He has a golf ball, bouncy ball, and tennis ball. What could his hypothesis be? I think the bouncy ball will bounce higher. The golf ball will bounce higher than the tennis ball. If the balls are dropped, then they will bounce because they are elastic. If the tennis ball is dropped, then it will bounce higher because it contains more rubber material.
Step 3: Designing an Experiment Determine your variables: Test (Independent) Variable – What you are testing or changing. Outcome (Dependent) Variable – What you are measuring Controlled Variable – kept constant Change only one variable at a time. Keep all others constant.
Conduct multiple trials to improve the accuracy of the results. Make a procedure, step by step list, of how you will perform the experiment.
What is the test variable? What is the outcome variable? Jane wants to see if color affects the amount of heat absorbed. She places thermometers under black paper, white paper, and green paper. What is the test variable? What is the outcome variable? What is the controlled variable?
What is the test variable? Color of paper Jane wants to see if color affects the amount of heat absorbed. She places thermometers under black paper, white paper, and green paper. What is the test variable? Color of paper What is the outcome variable? Amount of heat absorbed What is the controlled variable? Thermometer, placement of paper
Step 4: Collecting Data Create a data table. Types of Data: Qualitative: Descriptions Quantitative: Numbers Object Mass (g) Volume (mL) Ball Beaker Penny
Step 5: Analyzing Data Explain what the data means. Use graphs to show trends or patterns in the data.
Step 6: Draw Conclusions A conclusion states whether or not the data support the hypothesis.
Data supports hypothesis … retest Data does not support hypothesis … modify hypothesis
Example of Conclusion My hypothesis was that the tennis ball would bounce the highest because it had the greatest mass. The tennis ball bounced 84 cm but the bouncy ball bounced 97 cm high. This means that the bouncy ball was the ball that bounced the highest.
Step 7: Communicating Results Why is communicating important? Allows others to check the results Leads to new questions or hypotheses Leads to new investigations
Repetition vs. Replication Repetition: YOU repeat the experiment. Replication: SOMEONE ELSE can repeat your experiment.
Learning Scale 4 (All of 3 +) – Evaluate a scientific investigation based on the evidence provided. 3 (All of 2 +) – Interpret and analyze data. Describe and analyze the methods used in science. 2 (All of 1 +) – Differentiate between test and outcome variables. Differentiate between repetition and replication. 1 - Identify and describe the steps of scientific inquiry.