1. List three things you can remember about LAB SAFETY (4).
Take a WARM-UP SHEET from the front table, find your assigned seat, and start the warm-up. Happy Monday!
Warm-Up 1/28/13
List three things you can remember about LAB SAFETY (4).

2. The Scientific Method

3. What is SCIENCE? GOAL – Investigate and understand the NATURAL WORLD.
Through investigation, we want to explain it.
Science is an ONGOING PROCESS…

4. SCIENTISTS…
Collect and organize data and information in a careful and orderly way.
Propose explanations that can be tested.

5. The Scientific Method (SM)
The scientific method is a set of common steps that biologists and other scientists use to gather information and answer questions
Not a fixed, rigid set of steps – just basic guidelines…

6. The Scientific Method The SM is used to solve…
questions and hypotheses that can be tested and that will create results that can be measured.
***What types of questions CAN be answered through scientific investigations?

7. 1. Make an Observation
The scientific method generally begins when observations are made
Identify a Problem to be solved
Ask a Question: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?
The question must be about something that you can measure with value.

8. Observation vs. Inference
Observation: what you can physically see, hear, smell, taste, or feel
Example: Steam rising from a cup of coffee
Inference: an assumption or explanation you make for the observation
Example: The coffee is hot

13. 2. Construct a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a testable statement that explains the problem and predicts what will happen in the experiment
Example: If (I do this), then (this) will happen
You must state your hypothesis in a way that you can easily measure

14. Example Observation: Fertilizer seems to make plants grow taller
Question: Does fertilizer help plants grow?
Hypothesis: If a plant receives fertilizer, then it will grow taller than a plant that doesn’t receive fertilizer

15. 3. Design a Controlled Experiment
Your experiment tests whether your hypothesis is true or false.
Variables: what changes or is manipulated during an experiment

16. What are independent and dependent variables and how are they related?
INDEPENDENT variable: the variable in the experiment that is tested --- it affects the outcome of the experiment *Example: Amount of fertilizer The variable that “I” change

17. What are independent and dependent variables and how are they related?
DEPENDENT variable: the variable that is measured or observed --- changes based on the independent variable *Example: How much the plant grows

18. Variables
How many variables do I manipulate
(or change)?
Always only

19. Variables
Can’t change 2 variables at the same time – if you change the amount of fertilizer AND sunlight, then how do you know which one is helping the plant grow? ? = +

20. 3. Design a Controlled Experiment
Experimental group: the trials in which you use or test the independent variable
*Example: plants that you give different amounts of fertilizer
10 grams 20 grams 30 grams

21. Experimentation
Control group: the trials where you leave out the independent variable
*Example: plants that you give WATER instead of FERTILIZER

22. Experimentation Why do I need to have a control?
Gives data unaffected by the variable being tested.
Need to know what would happen if nothing was done to the subject being tested

23. Experimentation
Constant(s): what remains the same throughout the experiment
*Example: the same type of plant, the same size pot, the same amount of sunlight, etc.

24. 4. Gather, Record, & Analyze Data
Data: all measurements collected during an experiment
Data can be:
Qualitative –descriptive data, observational
Describes qualities
Ex: the solution turned purple; the desk is black
Quantitative – numerical data, results from counts or measurements
Describes quantities
Ex: the pencil is 15 cm long; there are 25 plants

25. What’s the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?

26. Analyzing Data How do you analyze large amounts of data? Line Graph
Bar Graph
Pie Chart
Can you think of other ways to analyze data?

27. Analyzing Data
Dependent or responding variable is always on the Y axis
Independent or (manipulated) variable is always on the X axis

28. 5. Draw A Conclusion
After analyzing and interpreting your data and results, conclude whether the hypothesis was right, partially right, or wrong.

29. Chauncey wonders if holding the laces of a football allows him to throw it farther. He predicts that he can throw a football twice as far if he puts his fingers on the laces as opposed to not. He stands at the goal line on a windless sunny morning and throws the same football three times without holding the laces and then three times while holding the laces. The table shows how far he threw each What should his conclusion be?

30. 5. Draw A Conclusion State whether your hypothesis is right or wrong.
The hypothesis is true:
Report your findings.
The hypothesis is false or partially true:
Report your findings.
Think and try again.

31. 6. Share/Communicate Results
By publishing data, results, and conclusions, other scientists can repeat the experiment
Review, reproduce and confirm your results
Science is cumulative; one discovery is often made based on the work of others

32. Types of Communication
Articles in magazines such as the AMA (American Medical Association)
Presentations and Seminars
Peer Review
Can you think of others?

33. Theories and Laws
A theory is an explanation of a natural phenomenon that is supported by a large amount of evidence – theories can be revised.
Examples:
Theory of Evolution
Big Bang Theory

34. Theories and Laws A law is absolute and does not change. Examples:
Law of Gravity
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion
Laws of Thermodynamics

36. Design an Experiment --- Biology
Each group will receive a problem to solve using the scientific method. You may choose another problem to solve, but get approval from me before you start. You will design the experiment to test your problem as a group. Listen to all input and come to a consensus for all decisions.

37. Design an Experiment --- Biology
Design the experiment following the steps of the scientific method and write it out following the layout of the lab report format. Make sure you include all of the following:
Problem Statement
Hypothesis
Materials List
Include amounts to be used (ex. 10 mL water)
Procedure in detail
Controlled experiment
Experimental AND control group
Independent and dependent variables
What are your constants?
Data Collection:
How are you going to measure?
When are you going to measure?
How many are you going to measure?
How are you going to analyze your data (what kind of graph)?
Since you will not actually do the experiment, you will not be able to write a conclusion. However, explain how you will use your data to come to a conclusion and answer the problem statement.

38. Design an Experiment --- Honors Biology
Each pair will develop a problem to solve using the scientific method, and you will design an experiment to test your problem. You may discuss the assignment with the people around you, but everyone should be working on a different subject.