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- Science is the process of learning about the natural events of the world and testing

What is Science ? – 2 basic definitions. - Science is the process of learning about the natural events of the world and testing our understanding about it. - Science is the body of knowledge that come from this process. Scientists use various inquiry processes to solve

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- Science is the process of learning about the natural events of the world and testing

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  1. What is Science? – 2 basic definitions - Science is the process of learning about the natural events of the world and testing our understanding about it. - Science is the body of knowledge that come from this process.

  2. Scientists use various inquiry processes to solve problems and develop scientific knowledge. There is no ONE scientific method!! Those scientific inquiry processes should Include the following items: Observations, questioning, making inferences, experimental design, collecting data, interpreting results Communicating with peers

  3. Questioning • Every piece of scientific knowledge begins with a QUESTION. • HOW? A natural event is observed and one questions why it occurs.

  4. Observation • Observations are descriptive statements formed from using one or more of the five senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing). • Remember – you can observe something without seeing it!

  5. Inference → Hypothesis • Once an questioning event occurs – the observer uses prior knowledge, past experiences to provide an explanation for what he/she saw. This explanation is considered an INFERENCE. • If it is necessary for an experiment to be designed and conducted – this explanation is then considered a HYPOTHESIS.

  6. Experimental Design - Variables VARIABLES are the items that are changed or will be changed in the experiment. There are always TWO different variables in a controlled experiment: • INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (manipulated variable) – This variable is the one changed by the experimenter • DEPENDENT VARIABLE (responding variable) – This variable is the one that will change as a result of the experiment. It responds to the independent variable.

  7. Sample ExperimentAlex’s Plant Experiment Alex wants to grow larger houseplants. The Ads states that Miracle Grow plant food can produce large healthy green plants. To see if this claim was true, he planted one fern seed in four different pots. The four plant seeds were given the same amount of water and sunlight each day. In addition to water and sunlight, two of the plants received a small amount of Miracle Grow plant food. He watched the plants grow over a period of four weeks and recorded the mass of the plants each week. What is the independent variable? dependent variable?

  8. Experimental Design (Quantitative Research) A controlled experiment is necessary when you want to test one condition at a time. The following items are in a controlled experiment: • Independent variable • Dependent variable • Control • Treatment

  9. Sample Experiment Alex’s Experiment Alex wants to grow larger houseplants. The ads state that Miracle Grow plant food can produce large healthy green plants. To see if this claim was true, he planted one fern seed in four different pots. The four plant seeds were given the same amount of water and sunlight each day. In addition to water and sunlight, two of the plants received a small amount of Miracle Grow plant food. He watched the plants grow over a period of four weeks and recorded the mass of the plants each week. • What is the control group? Treatment group?

  10. Other Experiment Essentials: Treatment & Control • TREATMENT – Independent Variable • CONTROL – part of experiment that is considered the standard, regular condition to be used for comparison • EXPERIMENTAL GROUP – individuals in experiment that receive the treatment • CONTROL GROUP – individuals in experiment that DO NOT receive treatment; comparison group Think: Experimental group VS control group

  11. Data DATA is the information obtained from experiments. There are two basic forms of data: Quantitative research data – NUMBERS Measurements (time, mass, length, volume, etc.) Counts (number of offspring, diseased plants,etc. Descriptive research data - WORDS Detailed descriptions of observations

  12. Data Representation There are different ways to present data in order to draw appropriate conclusions from it: • TABLES or CHARTS simply display data • GRAPHS show data in order to view relationship between independent & dependent variable

  13. Conclusions Data is analyzed and might prove or disprove a hypothesis (explanation). If data from many experiments prove hypothesis…. HYPOTHESIS → THEORY The hypothesis can become a theory Research conclusions must be consistent with the data collected. YOU MUST SHOW EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR CONCLUSION!

  14. Collaboration Scientists communicate with peers & add to scientific knowledge base by: - Presenting at research conferences - Publishing in peer-reviewed journals

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