1. Scientific Method

2. Steps in the Scientific Method
Observation (Identify Problem)
Hypothesis (Predicting)
Experiment
Data Collection (Analyze & Infer)
Conclusion
Retest

3. Observations Identify a problem or question based on observations
Gathered through your 5 senses
Taste, Smell, Touch, Hearing, Vision
Observations will occur prior to and after identification of a problem
Example of an observation: Noticing that many salamanders near a pond have curved, not straight, tails

4. Hypothesis A suggested solution to the problem. Must be testable
Sometimes written as If…Then…statements
Predicts an outcome
Example of a hypothesis:
The salamanders have curved tails due to a pollutant in the moist soil where they live.

5. Experiment A procedure to test the hypothesis.
Gathering data under controlled conditions – conducting a controlled experiment
Based on comparison of a control group with an experimental group

6. Control Group Controls are NOT being tested
What is the Purpose of a Control – situation where variables are left alone (as normal as possible).
Controls are NOT being tested
Controls are used for COMPARISON

7. Independent vs. Dependent Variables:
Experiment (cont’d)
Independent vs. Dependent Variables:
Independent - The factor that is manipulated (changed) by the researcher
Dependent - The factor that is observed/measured because it is expected to be “dependent” on the manipulation of the independent variable
Graphing independent vs. dependent
Dependent (y-axis)
Independent (x-axis)
“y depends on x”

8. Experiment (cont’d)
A good or “valid” experiment will only have ONE independent variable! (one manipulated by the researcher)

9. Data Collection
Any and all measurements and observations gathered from the experiment
May be quantitative (numbers) or qualitative (descriptive)

10. Data Collection (cont’d)
Must be organized
Can be organized into charts, tables, graphs, or maps

11. Conclusion
Conclusion- The answer to the hypothesis based on the data obtained from the experiment
Collected and organized data must be Analyzed and Inferences must be made!
Analyzing – process of determining
whether data are reliable,
whether they support or refute the hypothesis
Inferring – conclusions made on the basis of facts or premises rather than on direct observation

12. Retest…
It is best to make several trials with each independent variable – Retest!
Retesting verifies the results.

13. What is required for the experiment to be valid?:
Two groups are required - the control group & the experimental group
There should be only one independent variable
Retesting!

14. COMMUNICATION
Sharing information is essential to the scientific process
Subject to examination and verification by other scientists (others setting up the same experiment should get the same results)
Allows scientists to build on the work of others
Publish findings in journals or at scientific meetings

15. REVIEW: Solving a Problem
1) Identify a Problem based on Observations
2) Form a Hypothesis about the problem (if…then…)
3) Design Experiment to test the hypothesis
4) Collect Data
5) Form Conclusion
6) Retest

16. SCIENTIFIC LAWS
Are statements of fact meant to explain, in concise terms, an action or set of actions.
Are generally accepted to be true and universal, and can sometimes be expressed in terms of a single mathematical equation.
Are similar to mathematical postulates. They don’t really need any complex external proofs; they are accepted at face value based upon the fact that they have always been observed to be true.

17. Give me some examples of scientific laws!
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion
The Laws of Thermodynamics
Boyle's law of gases
The law of conservation of mass and energy
Hooke’s law of elasticity
Galileo's law of free fall
Kepler's three laws of planetary motion
Newton's law of gravitation

18. SCIENTIFIC THEORIES
This one is perhaps the most “controversial” of the terms we’ve looked at so far.
Why? Simply because people mistake a scientific theory for the every day use of the term “opinion”.

19. SCIENTIFIC THEORIES
A "theory" is not an insult (as in the silly saying "it's just a theory"). A theory is simply the most elaborate form of consistent scientific knowledge not yet disproved by experiment.
In experimental sciences, a theory can never be "proved", it can only be "disproved" by experiment.
This is precisely what makes a theory scientific. A statement that cannot be disproved by experiment may still be highly respectable but it's simply not part of any experimental science.

20.                     
All of these theories are well documented and proved beyond reasonable doubt:
The theory of evolution
The theory of relativity
The atomic theory
The quantum theory
. A theory is an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times by detached groups of researchers. One scientist cannot create a theory; she can only create a hypothesis.

21. L A W (fact) THEORY HYPOTHESIS When proven that it always works
When supported over time
Only call on those with misconceptions
The rest of what we will be doing is exploring the validity of this
HYPOTHESIS