1. Now that she has an inference, the zoologist wants to know if her inference is correct. She tests it following the steps of the scientific method.

2. Analyze DATA and draw CONCLUSION
Scientific Method
Ask a QUESTION
BACKGROUND RESEARCH
Devise a HYPOTHESIS
Conduct EXPERIMENT
Analyze DATA and draw CONCLUSION
REPORT RESULTS
An organized, 6-step way to investigate an inference. Repeatable by other scientists.

3. Scientific Investigation 1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(testing ideas)
Observation
Inference
Quant.
Qual.

4. The first step of the S.M. is to ask a question: How do big ears help African elephants survive?

5. Scientific Investigation
1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(design/carry out experiment)
Observation
Inference
Question
Quant.
Qual.

6. Question ?
Step 1 of the Scientific Method. Based on the inference.

7. Look bigger (intimidate other males?)
The zoologist comes up with several possible answers to the question.
Better hearing?
Look bigger (intimidate other males?)
Attract females?
Keep away flies?
Stay cool in the heat?
Something else?

8. The African savanna is extremely hot
To narrow down her hypothesis, the zoologist does background research. She learns that:
African elephants have no natural predators.
Males intimidate with their tusks, not their ears.
The average temperature of the African savanna is 70°-113° F.
African elephants have no sweat glands. X X X
Better hearing
Intimidate
The African savanna is extremely hot

9. The African savanna is extremely hot
Background Research X X X
Better hearing
Intimidate
The African savanna is extremely hot
Step 2 of the S.M. Narrows down the hypothesis.

10. Scientific Investigation
1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(design/carry out experiment)
Observation
Inference
Question
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.

11. Now, she has a very specific hypothesis: African elephants have large ears ears to stay cool.

12. Hypothesis
Step 3; a possible idea, not yet tested by an experiment.

13. Scientific Investigation
1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(design/carry out experiment)
Observation
Inference
Question
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.
Hypothesis

14. If she is right, then the elephant’s ears should be the coolest part of its body.

15. The zoologist must now conduct an experiment to see if her hypothesis is correct.

16. Experiment
Step 4; a way of testing the hypothesis.

17. Scientific Investigation
1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(design/carry out experiment)
Observation
Inference
Question
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.
Hypothesis
Experiment

18. MEASURING THE TEMPERATURE OF AN ELEPHANT’S EAR
EXPERIMENT #1:
MEASURING THE TEMPERATURE OF AN ELEPHANT’S EAR

19. Eventually, the zoologist decides to use a heat-sensing video camera to see if the elephant’s ears are indeed cooler than the rest of its body.
Camera
Image of a Dog

20. Video from the experiment:
Hot
Cool

21. During the experiment, she collects data.

22. Data
Step 5; Info collected during an experiment.

23. Scientific Investigation
1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(design/carry out experiment)
Observation
Inference
Question
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.
Hypothesis
Experiment
Data

24. Based on the data, she draws a conclusion: elephants do use their ears to stay cool. Her hypothesis was supported.

25. Conclusion
Step 5; Whether the hypothesis was supported or not supported. Based on data gathered during the experiment.

26. Analyze DATA and draw CONCLUSION
Ask a QUESTION
BACKGROUND RESEARCH
Devise a HYPOTHESIS
Conduct EXPERIMENT
Analyze DATA and draw CONCLUSION
REPORT RESULTS
Step 5 has two parts.

27. Scientific Investigation
1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(design/carry out experiment)
Observation
Inference
Question
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.
Hypothesis
Experiment
Data
/Conclusion

28. Victorious, the zoologist reports her results in her University’s science journal, so that other researchers can repeat the experiment with other African animals.

29. Scientific Investigation
1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(design/carry out experiment)
Observation
Inference
Question
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.
Hypothesis
Experiment
Data
/Conclusion
Report Results

30. Scientific Investigation
1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(design/carry out experiment)
Observation
Inference
Question
Leads to
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.
Narrows down
Hypothesis
Tested by
Experiment
Provides
Data
/Conclusion
Report Results

31. Scientific Investigation 1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(testing ideas)
Observation
Inference
Question
Leads to
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.
Narrows down
Hypothesis
Tested by
Experiment
Provides
Data
/Conclusion
Report Results

32. If necessary, please revise #14 in the study guide
A conclusion must include the word “hypothesis.”
The hypothesis was supported
The hypothesis was not supported
If necessary, please revise #14 in the study guide

33. Scientific Investigation
1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(testing ideas)
Observation
Inference
Question
Leads to
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.
Narrows down
Hypothesis
Tested by
Experiment
If hypothesis is
not supported
Provides
Data
/Conclusion
If hypothesis is supported
Report Results

34. Report Results
Step 6; making the results of an experiment public. Done so that other scientists may repeat the experiment and turn the supported hypothesis into a theory.

35. Theory
A hypothesis that has been tested many times under different conditions. A “well-supported” hypothesis.

36. Scientific Investigation 1. Thinking like a scientist
2. Scientific Method
(getting ideas)
(testing ideas)
Observation
Inference
Question
Leads to
Background Research
Quant.
Qual.
Narrows down
Hypothesis
Tested by
Experiment
If not supported
Provides
Data
/Conclusion
If supported
MANY TIMES = THEORY
Report Results