Scientific Method: Investigations Skills PDF

Scientific Method Science Investigation Skills By: Jack and Lucas -Initiating and Planning -Performing and Recording -Analyzing and Interpreting -Communication Initiating and planning: ​ A question can be asked (the starting point), ​ Hypot...

Scientific Method Science Investigation Skills By: Jack and Lucas -Initiating and Planning -Performing and Recording -Analyzing and Interpreting -Communication Initiating and planning: ​ A question can be asked (the starting point), ​ Hypothesis is related to the question and is a prediction of “If-Then-Because” and is based on already proven facts. Also provides a possible answer to a question ​ If you don’t have a scientific explanation you can make a prediction, ​ Experimental design briefly describes the procedure of the experiment, ​ Identifying the independent and dependent variables ​ Determining how the changes in the variables will be measure, specifying how to control the variables ​ Specifying how to control the variables not being tested, ​ Selecting the appropriate equipment and materials, ​ Identifying and addressing safety concerts, ​ Deciding on a format for recording observations, Performing and Recording ​ Qualitative observation is a description of the (senses) qualities of an object, ​ Quantitative observation is based on measurements or counting ​ An inference is a logical explanation for an observation, based on past experience and prior knowledge and is not necessarily correct, Example: If there was a fire alarm going off what would you infer? The grass on the front lawn of the school is wet. What do you infer? A student is sitting in the student's outer office. What do you infer? He's in trouble? - Analyzing And Evaluating:  ​ Plotting graphs for quantitative measurements to show patterns and trends while finding any errors in measurement ​ Evaluating evidence is also important and you do so by evaluating the quality of everything else in the experiment (quality of materials, scientist equipment, ect) ​ The overall purpose is to answer any questions at the start of the investigation. You can either have the evidence required for the question or not have enough evidence ​ You can also conclude if a hypothesis is supported by the results or not supported and both are equally as valuable for the scientist. Even if your hypothesis is not supported, it doesn’t mean that its a failure ​ Experiments can be repeated over and over again by other scientists and can make new questions for new experiments. Scientists will also ask themselves questions about if the information is actually useful or valuable ​ - Communicating: ​ It is important that after an experiment has concluded that the scientist goes through a process called peer review before they publish their work ​ Experts will check for errors with clear communication and will also check the evidence and the procedures that they used to gather the evidence. This is all important if anyone wants to repeat the experiment in the future ​ Usually the best way to communicate this evidence is through reports or presentations —--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ​ Scientific Method is the way scientists learn and study the world around them. It is an organized way of figuring something out and it can be used to study anything from a leaf to a dog to the entire universe. ​ The general rules or steps of scientific method are 1st, asking a testable question and developing a hypothesis/answer, 2nd, performing an investigation and analyzing/observing it, 3rd, The scientist draws a conclusion and compares it to his hypothesis. ​ Also, no 2 scientists scientific methods are the exact same, it's very common to be big differences in scientists ways that they use the scientific method ​ Scientific method - Part A: Brainstorming  What is the general question? Ie what am i wondering How many drops of water can fit on a penny? What factors can I measure or observe? (i.e possible dependent variables.) How big each drop is ​ Size penny. (Ie. year it was released) ​ What factors can change the outcome? Ie possible variables. -​ Year of coin -​ Size of dropper (drop) -​ Angle of dropper -​ Height of dropper -​ size/type of coin ​ Part B: preparing for the experiment (before I start, what do I have to account for) ​ You will need to ask yourself a few questions before you start your experiment ​ These can be questions like what are the variables (Identify the variables and the categories they fall in)? What equipment/materials do you need? How will I/what is my method on performing this experiment? If I change _____, what will happen to _____ (if this, then that, because). ​ Part C: Scientific Method Part D: Communicating Answer the question? (i.e. this is the conclusion) When I increased the size of the dropper The number of drops of water that fit on the penny decreased this agrees with my hypothesis. ​