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I have noticed some things…. Using the scientific method. My observations were…. All scientific questions and studies start here! I have noticed a lot of students chewing things like gum, candy, or sunflower seeds . Observations vs. Inference. Observations. Inferences .
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I have noticed some things… Using the scientific method
My observations were… • All scientific questions and studies start here! • I have noticed a lot of students chewing things like gum, candy, or sunflower seeds.
Observations vs. Inference Observations Inferences • Using your senses or a tool to record an event, characteristic, or behavior • NO BIAS • Example: • A logical conclusion drawn from observations and prior knowledge • Example:
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Observations Quantitative Qualitative • A measured observation • Example: Miss Smith is 162 cm tall. • A useful, descriptive observation • Example: the substance in the flask is giving of a pungent odor
My Problem (Question) • Scientific questions must be able to be answered by observations and gathering evidence • questions come from observations • must be testable through experimentation, survey or research • Deal with the natural world • Be genuine, something we don’t already know the answer to • How many chews does it take to finish a tootsie roll?
Some information I know.. • Gather information & do research • They are kind of difficult to chew • They are a little thick
My hypothesis • A possible explanation for your problem or questions • Not a fact • Must be testable • “If…., Then…” statements • If tootsie rolls are difficult to chew, then it will take 50 chews to finish one tootsie roll.
My experiment • Must have clear steps • Must be controlled- only change 1 variable at a time • Variable- factors that can change in an experiment • Independent- the 1 factor you change • Dependent- factor that may change in response to independent variable • Contstants- factors that remain the same • Must have a control group- nothing is changed so you can compare your results • Count how many chews it takes to finish a tootsie roll
Next step, Collect Data • Tables should be created before you begin • Facts and figures gathered through observation and experiment • graphs
Conclusions • Summary of what you found • Did my results support or refute my hypothesis? • What’s next?! • Need more tests! • Why?
Do your results support your hypothesis? • Test again to get more support
Do your results disprove your hypothesis? • Re-work or re-write your hypothesis and continue through steps from there
Theory vs. Law • Theory – well tested, repeatable hypothesis that attempts to answer WHY- ACCEPTED AS TRUE UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE ***Not always true or proven. Example: Theory of Evolution • Law- A statement meant to DESCRIBE an action or set of actions ***Proven to be true ALL the time • Example: Newton’s 1st Law of Motion- an object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an outside force
Sample Experiment • Test the Hypothesis – Example of a Test • Experimental Scenario: Ms. Freeman and Ms. Dowd wanted to determine if there was a correlation between eating a nutritionally balanced breakfast and success on tests. One group of students was given a healthy breakfast and another group ate their normal breakfast before a test. They found that 7 out of 10 students who ate the healthy breakfast scored 80% or better on tests while 5 out of 10 students who ate their regular breakfast scored 80% or better on tests. • Identify the following from the above experimental scenario: • Independent Variable: ___________________________________ • Dependent Variable: ____________________________________ • Controlled Variables: ____________________________________ • Control Group: ________________________________________ • Experimental Group: ____________________________________