CHAPTER 1- SCIENTIFIC METHOD
STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. ASK QUESTION 2 RESEARCH THE TOPIC 3 FORM A HYPOTHESIS 4 TEST THEY HYPOTHESIS 5 GATHER DATA 6 ANALYZE THE RESULTS 7 DRAW THE CONCLUSIONS 8 COMMUNICATE RESULTS
DATA TABLE
A data table is a group of related facts arranged in labeled rows and columns and is used to record information. Its purpose is to help sort, analyze and compare data gathered from a science experiment or research project
-Explain how to draw conclusions in experiments:
Do your results/data support your hypothesis? Why or why not? What are ways you can improve your data? What would you do differently if you were to repeat the experiment
EXPERIMENT
IS A PROCEDURE CARRIED OUT TO VERIFY, REFUTE, OR VALIDATE A HYPOTHESIS
VARIABLES
IS SOMETHING THAT CAN CHANGE EITHER NATURALLY OR ON PURPOSE
SCIENCE
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OR STUDY OF THE NATURAL WORLD BASED ON FACTS LEARNED THROUGH EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATION
HYPOTHESIS
AN EXPLANATION THAT IS BASED ON PRIOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OR OBSERVATIONS AND THAT CAN BE TESTED. "AN EDUCATED GUESS"
OBSERVATION
ANY USE OF THE SENSES TO GATHER INFORMATION
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
THE EFFECT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE EXPERIMENT, THE RESULT OF WHAT THE SCIENTIST CHANGED
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
THE FACTOR THAT THE SCIENTIST HAS CHANGED IN ORDER TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS, IT IS THE CAUSE
CONTROL GROUP
THE GROUP THAT THE SCIENTIST CHANGES NOTHING IN/ THE CONTROL GROUP IS USED FOR COMPARISON
-Write the lab procedure for an experiment of your choosing be sure to include all variables, control group, experimental group, and constants. Six bean plants are to be tested to see what happens if light is taken away. The all have the same type of container, the same amount of soil, and they will receive the same amount of water. Three will be placed in a sunlit window and 3 will be placed in a dark closet for 2 weeks.
● 1. What is the question? ● 2. Research. ● 3. Form a Hypothesis. ● 4. Test your hypothesis. ● 4a. What is the control group? ● 4b. What is the experimental group? ● 4c. What is the independent variable? ● 4d. What is the dependent variable? ● 4e. What are the constants? ● 5. Gather data. ● 5a. What are some Qualitative observations you can make? ● 5b. What are some quantitative observations you can make? ● 6. Analyze results. ● 6a. How can you show your results? ● 7. Draw Conclusions? ● 7a. How do you write a conclusion paragraph?
Identify AND describe control groups, independent variables, dependent variables
● Use a Controlled Experiment ● An experiment that tests only one factor at a time by using a comparison of a control group and an experimental group. ● Control Group ● The group that the scientist changes nothing in. The Control group is used for comparison. ● Experimental Group ● The group that the scientist has changed something. It is the variable in the experiment where you want to see how this condition affects something. ● ● A variable is something that can change, either naturally or on purpose. *** ● In an experiment it is a factor that is different from one group to another. ● Independent variable ● The factor that the scientist has changed in order to test the hypothesis (on purpose). It is the cause ● Dependent Variable ● The result of what the scientist changed. It is the effect of what happened in the experiment.
Explain how to read data in experiments
● Write observations and measurements ● Be consistent when you are checking your experiments and recording the results ● Create tables or charts (Data Tables and Pie Charts) Create graphs from collected Data (Line Graphs, Bar Graphs) ● Complete all necessary mathematical calculations
