Scientific MethodScientific Method

What is It? What is It? Why is it Important?Why is it Important?

How do I use it?How do I use it?

What IS the Scientific What IS the Scientific Method?Method? It is the steps someone takes in It is the steps someone takes in

order to identify a question, order to identify a question, develop a hypothesis, design develop a hypothesis, design and carry out steps to test the and carry out steps to test the hypothesis, and document hypothesis, and document observations and findings to observations and findings to share with othersshare with others

In other words, it’s a way to In other words, it’s a way to solve a problem!solve a problem!

In order to solve problems, In order to solve problems, scientists have to think logicallyscientists have to think logically

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

OBSERVE something in the natural world

Form a HYPOTHESIS based onproblem or question that arose from

the observation

Conduct an EXPERIMENT to test The hypothesis

Collect and Interpret DATA

Form CONCLUSIONS

HYP

NO

Good

HYP

NO

Good

THEORY LAW

= A PLAN!!

The Scientific Method is The Scientific Method is Unprejudiced…Unprejudiced…

Re-doing the experiment tells Re-doing the experiment tells whether the results were true or whether the results were true or falsefalse

““The conclusions will hold The conclusions will hold irrespective of the state of mind, irrespective of the state of mind, or the religious persuasion, or the or the religious persuasion, or the state of consciousness of the state of consciousness of the investigator and/or the subject of investigator and/or the subject of the investigation.” the investigation.”

www.phyun5.ucr.edu/~wudka/Physics7/Notes_www/node6.html

BUT to REVIEW…BUT to REVIEW…

The results using the scientific The results using the scientific method are, and must be, method are, and must be, repeatable!repeatable!

Once experiments and observations Once experiments and observations are repeated many times, only are repeated many times, only THEN can a theory be formedTHEN can a theory be formed

THIS IS THE BASIS OF SCIENCE: THIS IS THE BASIS OF SCIENCE: Discovery, Duplication, Delivery Discovery, Duplication, Delivery

www.phyun5.ucr.edu/~wudka/Physics7/Notes_www/node6.html

What is the difference between a What is the difference between a fact, a theory, and a hypothesis?fact, a theory, and a hypothesis?

““In popular use, a theory is just a vague In popular use, a theory is just a vague and fuzzy fact. For scientists (this now and fuzzy fact. For scientists (this now includes you!), a includes you!), a theorytheory is a concept that is a concept that explains a explains a factfact and can predict new ones. and can predict new ones. For example, today I saw the sun rise. For example, today I saw the sun rise. This is a fact explained by the theory that This is a fact explained by the theory that the earth is round and spins on its axis the earth is round and spins on its axis while orbiting the sun.”while orbiting the sun.”

This theory also explains other facts This theory also explains other facts (such as the seasons and moon phases) (such as the seasons and moon phases) and allows me to make future predictions.and allows me to make future predictions.

http://home.xnet.com/~blatura/skep1_.html

What is the difference between a What is the difference between a fact, a theory, and a hypothesis?fact, a theory, and a hypothesis?

A A hypothesishypothesis is a theory that has not yet been is a theory that has not yet been tested. Remember, only hypotheses that stand tested. Remember, only hypotheses that stand over time and through many tests become over time and through many tests become theories.theories.

http://home.xnet.com/~blatura/skep1_.html

So, what’s left to know about the

Scientific Method?

But there’s more! We’re all human But there’s more! We’re all human – so let’s learn about COMMON – so let’s learn about COMMON

MISTAKESMISTAKES #1 error: Mistaking a #1 error: Mistaking a

hypothesis for an hypothesis for an explanation - sometimes an explanation - sometimes an idea seems so logical it idea seems so logical it tempts us into believing no tempts us into believing no testing is necessary - testing is necessary - DON’T FALL FOR IT! DON’T FALL FOR IT!

Another mistake is ignoring Another mistake is ignoring or ruling out data that does or ruling out data that does not support the hypothesis – not support the hypothesis – ALL data must be included!ALL data must be included!

Finally, a mistake can arise Finally, a mistake can arise from not estimating error – from not estimating error – you could have even you could have even discovered a new discovered a new phenomena!phenomena!

http://teacher.nsrl.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html

Importance of Scientific Importance of Scientific MethodMethod

UniversalUniversal SimpleSimple Well-organizedWell-organized Allows for Communication…Allows for Communication…

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

OBSERVE something in the natural world

Form a HYPOTHESIS based onproblem or question that arose from

the observation

Conduct an EXPERIMENT to test The hypothesis

Collect and Interpret DATA

Form CONCLUSIONS

HYP

NO

Good

HYP

NO

Good

THEORY LAW

……but even outside of class - but even outside of class - YOU can use the scientific YOU can use the scientific

method!method!

Other scientists may critique our Other scientists may critique our results and work – but this is results and work – but this is goodgood

Collaboration is how we learn Collaboration is how we learn and get ahead!and get ahead!

TThe   he   SScientific   cientific   MMethod ethod can be used to solve can be used to solve anyany problem, problem, even to find a date for a dance!even to find a date for a dance!

Here's how to do it: Here's how to do it:

Step 1:Step 1:State the problem.State the problem. You cannot solve a problem You cannot solve a problem until you know exactly what it is.until you know exactly what it is. My Problem is My Problem is

- "I need a date for the dance".- "I need a date for the dance".

Step 2:Step 2:Research the problem.Research the problem. What will it take to solve What will it take to solve

my problem?my problem?What do I know, and need to know, about my What do I know, and need to know, about my

problem?problem? To solve my problem, "I need To solve my problem, "I need someone to take to the dance". Who can I take? someone to take to the dance". Who can I take?

- Examine the possibilities. - Examine the possibilities. - Eliminate poor choices. - Eliminate poor choices. - Consider likely choices.- Consider likely choices.

Step 3:Step 3:Form a hypothesis.Form a hypothesis. A possible solution to my problem.A possible solution to my problem.The simplest solution is often the best solution!The simplest solution is often the best solution! "My "My date will be ( date will be ( NameName )". )".

Step 4:Step 4:Test the hypothesis.Test the hypothesis. Perform an experiment to see if Perform an experiment to see if your hypothesis works.your hypothesis works. "Ask ( "Ask ( NameName ) for a date". ) for a date".

Step 5: Draw conclusions from the data.Step 5: Draw conclusions from the data. Data are the Data are the results of an experiment. In its simplest form, there are results of an experiment. In its simplest form, there are only two possible conclusions:only two possible conclusions:

Conclusion 1Conclusion 1   If your hypothesis was correct, you now   If your hypothesis was correct, you now have a date for the dance. PROBLEM SOLVED!have a date for the dance. PROBLEM SOLVED!

Conclusion 2Conclusion 2   If your hypothesis was incorrect, the   If your hypothesis was incorrect, the experiment failed. DON'T GIVE UP! DO MORE experiment failed. DON'T GIVE UP! DO MORE RESEARCH!- What was wrong with your original RESEARCH!- What was wrong with your original hypothesis?hypothesis?- Did you make a poor selection?- Did you make a poor selection?- Was your experiment flawed? - Was your experiment flawed? - Form another hypothesis based on additional - Form another hypothesis based on additional research.research.- Test the new hypothesis.- Test the new hypothesis.

WHAT NEXT?WHAT NEXT?

Well, we now knowWell, we now know

1. what the scientific method 1. what the scientific method isis

2. why the method is 2. why the method is important important

And…And…

3. how to use it3. how to use it

So, what about other So, what about other scientists?scientists?

Scientists used this method (before it was even called Scientists used this method (before it was even called The Scientific Method) The Scientific Method) to form theories on such to form theories on such

phenomena as gravity, evolution, and cells.phenomena as gravity, evolution, and cells.

But they had other attributes about their personality to But they had other attributes about their personality to help them succeed in their science work as well…help them succeed in their science work as well…

GO NOW to the WEB QUEST to discover HABITS of GO NOW to the WEB QUEST to discover HABITS of MIND and how FAMOUS SCIENTISTS used their MIND and how FAMOUS SCIENTISTS used their personal characteristics along with the scientific personal characteristics along with the scientific

method to be successful!method to be successful!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

Don’t Forget to Keep your Notes on Don’t Forget to Keep your Notes on the Scientific Method for the test the Scientific Method for the test and for me to check!! and for me to check!!

Ms. Turza’s Home Page

Web Quest