The Scientific Method and Science Process Skills

What is the Scientific Method?

It is a system used in solving problems in a logical and orderly way. There is no one scientific method. Scientist combine the elements of the scientific method in a way that will best answer the question they are asking.

What are Science Process Skills?

Tasks that a scientist must be able to do. These tasks include:
Observing - using your senses to gather information. (sight, touch, hearing, & smell but not taste) Measuring - Quantifying observations, comparing an unknown value to a known value. Inferring - using facts to form conclusions without direct observation.

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What are Science Process Skills?

Predicting - stating in advance how and why something will occur. Modeling - Using a copy or an imitation of an object to help explain or understand something. Organizing Data - putting information into some kind of order. Graphs, charts, tables, and diagrams are often used. Forming a hypothesis - Making a testable statement. A statement is testable only if evidence can be collected to prove or disprove it.

Science Process: Observing

To observe an object means to carefully explore all of its properties. Objects may have such properties as color, texture, odor, shape, weight, volume, or temperature. Objects may even make sounds, either on their own or when manipulated. Objects may exhibit behaviors, often in response to environmental stimulus.

Science Process: Observing

Using our senses we are able to perceive an object's characteristics by seeing, hearing, touching, or smelling them. (Remember: NOT tasting). Make a list of at least ten adjectives for each of the four senses.

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Science Process: Observing

Sometimes we want more precise information than our senses alone can give us. Qualitative observations only use your senses to obtain information. Observations that involve numbers or quantities are quantitative observations. (measuring)

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Observations

Qualitative
Object is white, Sparkles Has no distinct odor Feels hard but crumbly Makes a sharp sound when dropped

Quantitative
Length 1.2 cm Width 1.5 cm Mass 2.0 g Temperature 30 C Density 5 g/mL

Science Process: Identifying Variables

A variable is something that can have more than one value. In science variables are part of an experiment that can have more than one value and must be considered when designing and experiment. Examples (Growing a plant):
Type of plant Amount of water Amount of sun Temperature Humidity Type of soil Amount of fertilizer etc

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How are variables important to experimental design?

When conducting an experiment, it is important to control all of the variables that may affect your results. Basic experiments generally try to determine the relationship between two variables.

What are the types of experimental variables?

Independent variable (manipulated variable) - deliberately changed. Dependent variable (responding variable) may change as a result of the independent variable. Controlled variable designed to remain constant across all trials. Can be a source of experimental error if unaccounted for.

Identify the independent and dependent variables

1. The amount of algae growth in lakes seems to be directly related to the number of bags of phosphate fertilizer sold by the local merchants. 2. An investigation was performed to see if corn seeds would sprout at different times depending on the temperature of the water in which they were placed. 3. The amount of pollution produced by cars was measured for cars using gasoline containing different amounts of lead.

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Identify the independent and dependent variables

4. Lemon trees receiving the most water produce the largest lemons. 5. The time it takes to run a kilometer depends on the amount of exercise a person gets. 6. The higher the temperature of water, the faster and egg will cook.

Identify the independent and dependent variables

7. An investigation was done to see if keeping the lights on for different amounts of time each day affected the number of eggs chickens laid. 8. The temperature of the water was measured at different depths of a lake. 9. The number of flowers on different breeds of rose bushes in a greenhouse is recorded every week for three months.

Science Process: Making Tables

One of the skills needed to collect data and analyze an investigation is the organization of data into tables. When data are presented in well-organized tables, trends and patterns of change in data are often revealed. Although there are no absolute rules for constructing tables of data, there are commonly agreed upon patterns of organization.

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How is a table constructed?

When constructing a table of data, the independent (manipulated) variable is recorded on the left column and the dependent (responding) variable is on the right. Independent Variable Dependent Variable

How is a table constructed?

Whenever units are used they are included in the column heading and not listed next to each number. Number of Leaves Average Diameter Removed of Fruit (cm) 50 100 40 35

How is a table constructed?

Data for the independent variable is ordered from smallest to largest. This organization establishes a pattern of change in the independent variable. If there is a corresponding pattern of change in the dependent variable, it will be easier to recognize. Number of Weekly Fuel cars in the Expenses driveway ($) 1 120 2 3 4 5 120 80 240 200

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Construct a table
Order the following data pairs into a table.
(20,17) (5,18) (9,12) (23,26) (17,3) (27,32)

What is the relationship between the variables?

Construct a table
Independent variable 5 9 17 20 23 27 Dependent variable 18 12 3 17 26 32

Construct a table
Try one more.
(12,12) (13,10) (5,10) (8,12) (2, 5) (10, 13)

What is the relationship between the variables?

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Construct a table
Independent variable 2 5 8 10 12 13 Dependent variable 5 10 12 13 12 10

Why bother making tables?

Read the paragraph and describe the relationship between the variables. The heights to which balls bounced when dropped from different distances were measured. A ball dropped 50 cm bounced 40 cm high. A 10 cm drop bounced 8 cm. A ball bounced 24 cm when dropped 30 cm. The bounce was 56 cm high for a 70 cm drop. A 100 cm drop bounced 80 cm.

Why bother making tables?

Now use the data to make a table, then describe the relationship between the variables. The heights to which balls bounced when dropped from different distances were measured. A ball dropped 50 cm bounced 40 cm high. A 10 cm drop bounced 8 cm. A ball bounced 24 cm when dropped 30 cm. The bounce was 56 cm high for a 70 cm drop. A 100 cm drop bounced 80 cm.

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Tables make it easier to interpret our data

Length of Drop (cm) 10 30 50 70 100 Height of Bounce (cm) 8 24 40 56 80

Notice that it is easier to see the correlation between the variables and the 80% proportion for each bounce.

Complex Tables
Most experiments should be repeated several times. Repeated trials increase confidence in results by reducing the significance of chance errors that can occur with a single trial. When repeated trials are conducted, the column for the dependent variable is divided into smaller columns so data can be recorded for each repeated trial.

Complex Tables
Column for the Independent variable Columns for the Dependent variable (Trials) 1 2 3 Column for a derived quantity (average)

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Complex Tables Example

The rate of reaction for different enzyme concentrations was measured. Each concentration was tested three times. Create the headings for a table that would allow you to organize your data according to the instructions we have discussed.

Complex Tables Example

The rate of reaction for different enzyme concentrations was measured. Each concentration was tested three times. Reaction Rate (mm/s) Enzyme Concentration (%) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 20 8 10 13 40 7 9 10 60 5 7 8 80 4 5 6 100 3 4 5 Average Reaction Rate (mm/s) 10.3 8.7 6.7 5.0 4.0

Science Process: Graphing

Graphing is an important procedure used by scientists to display the data that is collected during a controlled experiment. Graphs must be constructed correctly to accurately portray the data collected. Constructing the wrong graph may lead to a mistaken interpretation of data and a false conclusion.

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What kind of graph do I draw?

The first decision is what type of graph to use. We will discuss two common types. There are others.

What kind of graph do I draw?

Bar graphs
Are used to display data for independent variables with discrete values (varies only by whole values).

What kind of graph do I draw?

Line graphs
Are used to display data for independent variables with continuous values.

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How do I draw a graph?

A graph contains five major parts: The title, the axis for the independent variable, the axis for the dependent variable, a scales (for each variable), and a legend.

Whats in a title?
The title: depicts what the graph is about. By reading the title, the reader should get an idea about the graph. It should be a concise statement placed above the graph.

Whats this graph about?

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Whats this graph about?

Whats this graph about?

Whats this graph about?

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Where do I put what?

The Independent Variable: is the variable that can be controlled by the experimenter. It usually includes time (dates, minutes, hours), depth (feet, meters), temperature (Celsius). This variable is placed on the X axis or horizontal axis. The Dependent Variable: is the variable that is directly affected by the independent variable. It is the result of what happens because of the independent variable. Example: How many oxygen bubbles are produced by a plant located five meters below the surface of the water? The oxygen bubbles are dependent on the depth of the water. This variable is placed on the Y-axis or vertical axis.

How big do I make my graph?

The Scales for each Variable: In constructing a graph one needs to know where to plot the points representing the data. In order to do this a scale must be employed to include all the data points. This must also take up a conservative amount of space. It is not suggested to have a run on scale making the graph too hard to manage but it needs to be visible so not to big or small. The scales should start with 0 and climb based on intervals such as: multiples of 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, or 100. The scale of numbers will be dictated by your data values.

Sample Data
Graph the following information: Avg. spring temperature (oF) 70 86 89 90 92 93 95 Number of Peaches 214 348 305 202 176 180 107

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Sample Data
Remember: Independent Variable goes along the X-axis Scale is in even intervals and dictated by our data values

70

75

80

85

90

95

Temperature (F)

Sample Data
350 Dependent Variable goes along the Y-axis Scale is in even intervals and dictated by our data values 250 Next plot your points and draw a best fit line. 300 Number of Peaches

200

150

100 70 75 80 85 90 95 Temperature (F)

Sample Data
350 300 Number of Peaches

250

200

150

100 70 75 80 85 90 95 Temperature (F)

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What does your graph show?

The Legend: is a short descriptive narrative concerning the graph's data. It should be short and concise and placed under the graph. A multi-year study of the relationship between average spring temperature and the number of peaches produced in a small orchard suggests that a temperature of 83-85 F results in the highest peach output.

Try this
Organize the following data into a table using the guidelines discussed:
A study was conducted to see if the number of peaches on a tree was directly proportional to the number of leaves on the fruit tree. One tree studied had 87 peaches and 257 leaves. Another tree had 653 leaves and 210 peaches. A third tree had 503 leaves and 165 peaches. A fourth tree had 175 leaves and 59 peaches. The fifth tree gave 73 peaches and 219 leaves.

After making your table graph your data.

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