IntroductionScience Is Ultimately Based On Observation
Introduction
Science is ultimately based on observation (perceiving objects or events using one of the five senses).
Observations often lead to questions ---> which lead to experiments to answer the questions.
The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence.
The Steps of the Scientific Method
1. Problem/Question
2. Observation/Research
3. Formulate a Hypothesis
4. Experiment/ Test
5. Collect and Analyze Results
6. Conclusion
7. Communicate the Results
Terminology
Before we go any further there are a few terms you will need to be familiar with:
1. HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis is an educated guess about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
2. VARIABLES: Variable is a logical set of attributes such as measurable quantities, categories such as gender, numbers, or words. Variables “vary”, can be high, or low.
3. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: or manipulated variable, is a factor that’s intentionally varied by the experimenter. The researcher changes this variable, it is under their control. Eg. Changing temperature, water quantities, etc.
4. DEPENDENT VARIABLES: or responding variable (responds to the independent variable – “dependent” on the independent), is the factor that may change as a result of changes made in the independent variable. Eg. Plant growth, cell growth etc. Scientists cannot predict how high plants are going to grow, nor can they make them grow a certain height, they can only wait and see.
5. CONTROL GROUP: In a scientific experiment, the control is the group that serves as the standard of comparison. The control group may be a “no treatment" or an “experimenter selected” group.
The control group is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group, except for the variable being tested. All experiments should have a control group.
The control group is used to test whether the variable is working, and then measure the
Science is ultimately based on observation (perceiving objects or events using one of the five senses).
Observations often lead to questions ---> which lead to experiments to answer the questions.
The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence.
The Steps of the Scientific Method
1. Problem/Question
2. Observation/Research
3. Formulate a Hypothesis
4. Experiment/ Test
5. Collect and Analyze Results
6. Conclusion
7. Communicate the Results
Terminology
Before we go any further there are a few terms you will need to be familiar with:
1. HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis is an educated guess about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
2. VARIABLES: Variable is a logical set of attributes such as measurable quantities, categories such as gender, numbers, or words. Variables “vary”, can be high, or low.
3. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: or manipulated variable, is a factor that’s intentionally varied by the experimenter. The researcher changes this variable, it is under their control. Eg. Changing temperature, water quantities, etc.
4. DEPENDENT VARIABLES: or responding variable (responds to the independent variable – “dependent” on the independent), is the factor that may change as a result of changes made in the independent variable. Eg. Plant growth, cell growth etc. Scientists cannot predict how high plants are going to grow, nor can they make them grow a certain height, they can only wait and see.
5. CONTROL GROUP: In a scientific experiment, the control is the group that serves as the standard of comparison. The control group may be a “no treatment" or an “experimenter selected” group.
The control group is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group, except for the variable being tested. All experiments should have a control group.
The control group is used to test whether the variable is working, and then measure the