2. THE FIRST THING NEEDED FOR THE
SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Receiving knowledge of the outside world
through the senses. May also include
recording the new knowledge.
OBSERVATION!!!!!
3. NEXT: INFERENCE & HYPOTHESIS!
Inference!!
The process of
drawing a
conclusion based
on your
observations and
logic.
Hypothesis!!
Your proposed
explanation for the
observed
phenomena.
4. THEN, SET YOUR PARAMETERSParameter:
How far you will be testing your
hypothesis.
How in depth will you be testing?
5. THEN, SET YOUR PARAMETERS
• EXAMPLE: If I wanted to test the lifecycle of frogs
based on location (environment) I would need to
decide what my parameters are.
• Bay Area? California? North America? Americas
(Canada, America, Central America, South America) or the
entire world.
6. INDEPENDENT VS. DEPENDENT
VARIABLES
Manipulated Variable
The variable that is
being changed.
Only ONE variable
changed at a
time!!!!!!!!!!
Responding Variable
The variable that
changes as a
RESULT of the
independent
variable.
(Independent Variable) (Dependent Variable)
7. INDEPENDENT VS. DEPENDENT
VARIABLES
WHICH IS WHICH?
• Measuring the growth of a plant when “watered” with
different liquids.
• Counting the number of people who stop when they see a
dollar on the ground.
• Timing how long someone can run after drinking an energy
drink.
8. CONTROL THE EXPERIMENT!!
Controlled Experiment
This can be accomplished when you only
have ONE variable manipulated at a
time!!
Or else, how do you know which
changed variable caused the results???
9. CONTROL THE EXPERIMENT!!
• If I am testing what will cause people to notice T-
Pain (my fish) more, I will need to create a
controlled experiment.
• I decide to test if a sign hanging above his bowl will
cause people to notice him more, but I also buy a
brighter new plant to put in his bowl.
• I record that 30 more students mention T-pain
throughout the day.
• Which change caused the extra 30 students to
notice him?
10. CONTROL THE EXPERIMENT!!
How would the following experiments be controlled?
• Measuring the growth of a plant when “watered”
with different liquids.
• Counting the number of people who stop when
they see a dollar on the ground.
• Timing how long someone can run after drinking an
energy drink.
12. DATA-DATA-DATA-DATA-
DATA!
• Look around the room and on your notes, write
down three qualitative observations and three
quantitative observations.
• When you’re done, look at me.
• When I tell you to, compare answers with your
elbow partner.
13. THEORY VS. LAW
Theory:
Widely tested and
generally
accepted.
We’re talking
WORLD
WIDE, people
Law:
Predictable results
from a set of
conditions.
No one will
argue that if
you drop
something, it
falls down (on
earth)
14. THEORY VS. LAW
• Which comes first? Theory or Law?
• What comes before a theory?
• How many theories do you think actually exist?