Think Like a Think Like a Scientist!Scientist!

The Scientific The Scientific MethodMethod

OBSERVATIONOBSERVATION

When you use one or When you use one or more of your five senses more of your five senses to gather information to gather information about the worldabout the world

Observations are called Observations are called DATADATA

What are some What are some examples?examples?

Hearing a Cow MoooooooooHearing a Cow Mooooooooo

Seeing a Dog bury a boneSeeing a Dog bury a bone

Smelling Choc. Chip cookiesSmelling Choc. Chip cookies

Quantitative vs. Quantitative vs. QualitativeQualitative

Quantitative ObservationsQuantitative Observations::

Observations that use NumbersObservations that use Numbers

For exampleFor example: Measurements or : Measurements or countingcounting

Qualitative ObservationsQualitative Observations::

Observations that use descriptionsObservations that use descriptions

For exampleFor example: How an animal reacts : How an animal reacts to an eventto an event

INFERENCE INFERENCE When you interpret an observationWhen you interpret an observation

For example: For example:

When you hear a dog barking….When you hear a dog barking….

you may infer that someone is you may infer that someone is at the door!at the door!

When you see a sea lion yawning…When you see a sea lion yawning…

you may infer that he is tired!you may infer that he is tired!

What is a possible What is a possible Inference?Inference?

What do you OBSERVE?What do you OBSERVE?What can you INFER?What can you INFER?

PREDICTIONPREDICTION

Making an inference about a future Making an inference about a future eventevent

For example:For example:

If Mrs. Brennan eats 12 Chocolate If Mrs. Brennan eats 12 Chocolate Chip Cookies…Chip Cookies…

I predict that she is going to feel I predict that she is going to feel sick!sick!

Who do you predict will Who do you predict will win? Why?win? Why?

Now, Your Thinking Now, Your Thinking like a Scientist!like a Scientist!

LETS SUMMARIZE!LETS SUMMARIZE!In pairs, person A tells person In pairs, person A tells person B what we just learned for 45 B what we just learned for 45 seconds…Next, person B fills seconds…Next, person B fills

in the gaps or repeats the in the gaps or repeats the main points!main points!

THE SCIENTIFIC THE SCIENTIFIC METHODMETHOD

The process, or steps scientists The process, or steps scientists use to gather information and use to gather information and answer questions!answer questions!

Scientists identify questions to Scientists identify questions to ask by observing the world ask by observing the world around them!around them!

1. Ask a Question or 1. Ask a Question or State a ProblemState a Problem

Asking WHAT? or Asking WHAT? or HOW? to HOW? to

something you something you observedobserved

Can you think of an Can you think of an example?example?

2. Research your 2. Research your TopicTopic

Gather information Gather information that will help you that will help you

answer your answer your question.question.

Library, Internet, Library, Internet, Interviews, Interviews,

ExperimentsExperiments

3. State your 3. State your HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS

A Hypothesis is an A Hypothesis is an explanation for a question explanation for a question

that can be formally tested.that can be formally tested.a.k.a: an educated guess!a.k.a: an educated guess!

If…then…If…then…

For example? For example?

4. Design an 4. Design an ExperimentExperimentA A procedureprocedure

designed to test designed to test your Hypothesis…your Hypothesis…

Testing whether it Testing whether it is true or false.is true or false.

Must be repeatable, Must be repeatable, and easy to and easy to understandunderstand

In a well designed In a well designed Experiment, you need to Experiment, you need to

keep all variables the same keep all variables the same except oneexcept one.. VariableVariable::

The factor that is changed in an The factor that is changed in an experiment…it is what you are testing!experiment…it is what you are testing!

ControlControl::The factor(s) that remains the same!The factor(s) that remains the same!

Controlled ExperimentControlled Experiment::An experiment where all factors except An experiment where all factors except one are kept the same; all of these one are kept the same; all of these factors are called the “controlled factors are called the “controlled variables”variables”

For example:For example: QuestionQuestion: Which freezes faster…: Which freezes faster…

fresh water or salt water?fresh water or salt water? HypothesisHypothesis: IF I add salt to fresh : IF I add salt to fresh

water, THEN the salt water will water, THEN the salt water will take longer to freezetake longer to freeze

Experiment:Experiment:VariableVariable: the salt that is added to the : the salt that is added to the waterwaterControlControl: the amount of water: the amount of waterControlled ExperimentControlled Experiment: All factors, : All factors, or potential variables are kept the or potential variables are kept the same, such as temperature and same, such as temperature and amount of wateramount of water

5. Conduct your 5. Conduct your ExperimentExperiment

Perform your experiment by Perform your experiment by following your written following your written

procedure.procedure.

Be sure to follow all safety rules!Be sure to follow all safety rules!

 

6. Collect Data6. Collect DataThe observations and The observations and

measurements you make in an measurements you make in an experiment are called Data.experiment are called Data.

7. Analyze Data7. Analyze Data

Did your experiment Did your experiment support your hypothesis?support your hypothesis?

What happened during What happened during your experiment?your experiment?

Does additional research need Does additional research need to be conducted? to be conducted?

8. Conclusion8. ConclusionDoes your data and Does your data and

observations support your observations support your Hypothesis?Hypothesis?

““My hypothesis was _______ My hypothesis was _______ because __________”because __________”

9. Communication9. CommunicationShare your results and data Share your results and data

with others.with others.

Sources: written, spoken, Sources: written, spoken, video, TV, papers, lecture . video, TV, papers, lecture . . . . .

10. New Problem10. New ProblemForm a new question or Form a new question or state a New Problem on state a New Problem on

the same topic. the same topic. What more can you What more can you

learn? What do you still learn? What do you still want to know?want to know?