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Scientific methods are used to study living things

Scientific methods are used to study living things. Two Basic Methods. Controlled Investigation Field Study. Controlled Investigation. Usually done in the lab Has only 1 manipulated variable Scientist tries to keep all things the same EXCEPT the manipulated variable.

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Scientific methods are used to study living things

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  1. Scientific methods are used to study living things

  2. Two Basic Methods • Controlled Investigation • Field Study

  3. Controlled Investigation • Usually done in the lab • Has only 1 manipulated variable • Scientist tries to keep all things the same EXCEPT the manipulated variable

  4. Example of a Controlled Investigation How does amount of water affect growth of sunflower plants over a 3 month period? • Manipulated Variable: Amount of water • Responding Variable: Growth of sunflower plant • Controlled Variables: size of pot, type of soil, amount of light, type of plant

  5. Field Study • Can be done in the lab or out of the lab • Scientist aims to test how a manipulated variable affects a responding variable OR aims to understand why a phenomena is occurring • Not all variables can be controlled

  6. Example of a Field Study How does type and amount of vegetation affect reproductive rates of desert tortoises? • Manipulated: type AND amount of vegetation • Responding: Number of eggs per spring • Controlled: Type of tortoise • CAN NOT CONTROL: Temperature, Rainfall, Soil type, Location, Elevation, Land disturbance

  7. Sometimes data collected indicates a problem Example: Marbled Murrelet (a bird) populations are declining in California. Example: Desert Tortoise populations are declining

  8. Biologists will often try to figure out how to fix a problem This is done using the Scientific Design Process

  9. Scientific Design Process • Identify a problem • Gather information about the problem (this can include data already collected) • Explore Ideas to solve problem • Choose a plan to solve problem • Write steps to do plan including a way to measure it’s effectiveness • Make a diagram of the plan

  10. Example of Scientific Design Process • Problem: Marbled Murrelet populations are falling • Gather information about the problem: Ask a scientist: Where do they live? Where do they eat? What do they eat? Observe murrelets for a month and record what their predators are. • Explore Ideas to solve problem: plant more trees for nests, make more parks, educate public about predators so predator populations will decline • Choose a plan to solve problem: Educate public about predators so that we can keep predators away from Murreletsso that Murrelet population will increase • Make a diagram of your design solution: NEXT SLIDE! • Write steps to do plan: NEXT SLIDE! • Scientifically test solution: NEXT SLIDE!

  11. Steps to do the plan • Create signs about predators of Murrelets • Make sure signs tell visitors that birds attracted to picnics and trash (ravens, crows, jays) prey on Murrelet eggs • Post signs in areas where Murrelets have their nests • Diagram Test Solution • Count and record the number of predators in nesting area before and after education plan to measure effectiveness of plan

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