1. Scientific Method

2. Steps of Scientific Method
Ask a Question / Identify a Problem
Research
Make a Hypothesis
Design an Experiment
Organize & Analyze Data
Make a Conclusion
Repeat experiment OR Change hypothesis

3. Experiments Control Independent Variable (manipulated)
Does not change or not tested
Independent Variable (manipulated)
The thing that is being tested & changed by the researcher
Dependent Variable (responding)
The results or outcome of the experiment

4. Validity Sample size Trial Large sample size  Less trials
Number of items being tested
Trial
How many times the test is run
Large sample size  Less trials
Small sample size  More trials
Minimum of 3 trials needed to find an average

5. Data Qualitative (quality…is observed)
Cleaner clothes, fresher breath, etc
Quantitative (quantity…is measured)
Height (12”), time (35 seconds)
Data can be recorded in a table

6. Charts & Graphs

7. Patty Power
Problem: People have a lot of gas after eating Krabby patties & Mr. Krabs thinks its the special sauce that is causing the gas production so he makes a new sauce and wants to see if it really works.
Hypothesis: “If I substitute the old sauce with the new sauce, then people will not have gas.”
Experiment (100 customers with gas)
50 (Group A) eat crabby patties with the new sauce.
50 (Group B) eat crabby patties with the old sauce.
Both groups were told that they were getting the new sauce.

8. Independent Variable (what is being tested?)
New sauce
Dependent Variable (what are the results?)
Less gas
Control Group (the group that was not being tested)
Group B (Old Sauce)

9. Results (2 hours after eating crabby patties)
30 customers in group A reported having fewer gas problems
8 customers in group B reported having fewer gas problems.

10. Conclusion (Did he prove his hypothesis?)
Yes…more people reported less gas when they ate the New Sauce
What about the 8 in group B that had the old sauce?
Placebo effect – Occurs when people believe they are experiencing the effect of something even if they did not receive the treatment
In this case, it is possible that the 8 people thought they had less gas

11. Slimotosis
SpongeBob notices that his pal Gary is suffering from slimotosis, which occurs when the shell develops a nasty slime and gives off a horrible odor.
His friend Patrick tells him that rubbing seaweed on the shell is the perfect cure, while Sandy says that drinking Dr. Kelp will be a better cure.
SpongeBob decides to test this cure by rubbing Gary with seaweed for 1 week and having him drink Dr. Kelp Cola for a week.
After a week of treatment, the slime is gone and Gary’s shell smells better.

12. Problem with the design? Dependent Variable
Initial Observation?
Gary was covered in smelly slime
Independent Variable
Seaweed AND Dr Kelp Cola
Problem with the design?
2 variables…he must test them one at a time
Dependent Variable
No more smelly slime (it worked!)

13. Marshmallow Muscles
Larry was told that a certain muscle cream was the newest best thing on the market and claims to double a person’s muscle power when used as part of a muscle-building workout.
He buys the special muscle cream and recruits Patrick and SpongeBob to help him with an experiment.
Larry develops a special marshmallow weight-lifting program for Patrick and SpongeBob.
He meets with them once every day for a period of 2 weeks and keeps track of their results.
Before each session Patrick’s arms and back are lathered in back are lathered with the muscle cream & SpongeBob is lathered with regular lotion.

14. Marshmallow Muscles Results (# of times dumbbell was lifted)
SpongeBob
Patrick
Initial 5 18
After 1 Week 9 24
After 2 Weeks 17 32

15. Hypothesis? Independent Variable? Control? Dependent Variable?
If muscle cream is applied before each workout, person will become twice as strong.
Independent Variable?
Muscle cream
Control?
SpongeBob (no cream)
Dependent Variable?
Double the strength
Conclusion?
Didn’t double Patrick’s strength. SpongeBob actually tripled his (Maybe exercise alone will increase strength)