The scientific investigation

Scientific investigation week 1 module

1. What is science ???? Science is the study of natural events through observation and experimentation resulting in an organized body of knowledge. The knowledge obtained by observing natural events and conditions in order to discover facts and formulate laws or principles that can be verified or tested .

2. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

3. WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

4. STEPS IN SCIENTIFIC METHOD

5. STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM Everything starts with an observation What you perceive with your senses Should be stated in the form of a question. The goal of the experiment should be to find the answer to your questions (problem). Ask yourself: What is it you want to know?

6. Practice: Directions: Given the following scenarios, give at least 2 or more problems in each scenario. Your light bulb won’t start. You received a failing grade in your test. Your plants did not grow.

7. HOW CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM? Qualitative: uses our 5 senses The termites follow a circle made with a blue pen on white paper Quantitative: uses numbers 3 termites follow a circular blue pen line that is 5 cm in diameter

8. Let’s Check your Understanding Determine which of the following statements are quantitative and which are qualitative. The cup had a mass of 454 grams. It is warm outside. The building has 25 stories. The sidewalk is long. The race was over quickly.

9. STEP 2: GATHER DATA Collect knowledge needed to know about the subject of the experiment WAYS TO GATHER DATA Make observations Use references to do background research Books Journals Magazines Internet TV Videos Interview Experts

10. How can you gather data?

11. STEP 3: FORMULATE A HYPOTHESIS HYPOTHESIS- A prediction or statement that can be tested through experimentation. -an educated prediction to the answer of the stated problem MUST BE TESTABLE. Should attempt to solve your problem. “If… then… because” Statement A good format for a hypothesis would be, “ If we do XX, then YY will happen.” Remember, the hypothesis should be measurable so it can help you solve the problem identified in step one.

12. Importance of a Testable Hypothesis

13. How to Formulate an Effective Hypothesis 1. State the problem that you are trying to solve. o Make sure that the hypothesis clearly defines the topic and the focus of the experiment. 2. Try to write the hypothesis as an if-then statement. o Follow this template: If a specific action is taken, then a certain outcome is expected. 3. Define the variables o In scientific experiments, a hypothesis proposes and examines the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable. The effect on the dependent variable (the idea being tested) depends on or is determined by what happens when you change the independent variable (the factor being changed).

14. Practice!! Example: 1. What happens to the growth of mongo seeds if table salt was added to the soil? 2. Tomato seeds may grow faster in colder temperature. Hypothesis: 1. If the amount of salt added to the soil increases, then the growth of mongo seeds decreases. 2. If tomato seeds were planted in colder temperature, then the seeds will grow at a faster rate.

15. Practice!! What effect does high temperature have on radish germination? What effect does studying with music have on students test scores. Does giving chocolate to teachers, decrease the amount of homework?

16. STEP 4: TESTING YOUR HYPOTHESIS This is where you conduct an experiment (a situation specially set up to observe how something happens or to test your hypothesis). Experiments should be performed the same way each time and they should be repeated to test for consistency and accuracy.

17. How do you test a hypothesis? Use a Controlled Experiment An experiment that tests only one factor at a time by using a comparison of a control group and an experimental group. Control Group The group that the scientist changes nothing in. The Control group is used for comparison. Experimental Group The group that the scientist has changed something. It is the variable in the experiment where you want to see how this condition affects something.

18. Variables are not Changed in C.G. One Variable Changed in Each Exp. Group

19. What is a variable? A variable is something that can change, either naturally or on purpose. Independent Variables Dependent Variables

20. What are constants? They are what the scientist kept the same in both the control group and the experimental group.

21. Two Types of Variables Independent variables that are purposely changed or manipulated in an experiment the factor that you wish to test usually expressed after the word “if” in the hypothesis could be thought of as the “cause” in a cause and effect relationship Example The activity level (resting, walking, running) Dependent variables that may change as a result of the independent variable the factor you measure to gather results usually expressed after the word “then” in the hypothesis could be thought of as the “effect” in a cause and effect relationship Example The person’s heart rate

22. Identify the Variables If a student chooses to not study, then they will earn a poor grade. If you drink Gatorade before a soccer game, then you will score more goals. If you increase the mechanical advantage of a pulley system used to move an object, then the input force becomes less. independent variable dependent variable independent variable dependent variable independent variable dependent variable

23. STEP 4: TESTING YOUR HYPOTHESIS Includes variables - a quantity that is measured or changed during the experiment. -Factors in the experiment that is being tested

24. STEP 4: TESTING YOUR HYPOTHESIS

25. Let’s Practice!!

26. STEP 5: RECORDING AND ANALYZNG DATA Look over your results What do they mean? Construct charts, graphs, averages , percentages, etc.

27. How can you analyze results to determine patterns? Record Data Write observations and measurements Be consistent when you are checking your experiments and recording the results Create tables or charts (Data Tables and Pie Charts) Create graphs from collected Data ( Line Graphs, Bar Graphs) Complete all necessary mathematical calculations

28. STEP 6: CONCLUSION

29. Step 7: Communicate the Results Results must be communicated in the form of a written paper or presentation Communication helps other scientists performing the same experiments to see if the results of your experiment are the same as their results Helps people see if results are repeatable!

30. WHY USE THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD? A logical way to problem solve - in all aspects of life. A way to share information that can be proved or disproved. A way to find new information

31. Assessment Directions: Now that you are finished accomplishing this module, let us check your understanding about the lesson presented in this module. Each sentence below describes a step of the scientific method. Match each sentence with a step of the scientific method listed below. Write the letter of your answers in your Science activity notebook. A. Draw conclusions C. Recognize a problem B. Form a hypothesis D. Test the hypothesis/ Experiment _______ 1. RJ Lou grew mongo seeds in ten (10) pots. She divided the pots into two (2) groups, the five (5) pots exposed to sunlight and the rest five (5) pots inside their house. _______ 2. Krizha used a survey to determine how many of her classmates were left-handed and how many were right-handed. _______ 3. Jose wanted to find out the effect of commercial fertilizer from organic fertilizer in the growth of tomato. _______ 4. Vincent saw bats catching insects after dark. He asked, “How do bats find the insects in the dark?” _______ 5. Mar wondered if dyes could be taken out of plant leaves, flowers, and stems. _______ 6. Florence soaked six different kinds of seeds in water for 24 hours. Then she planted the seeds in soil at a depth of 1 cm. She used the same amount of water, light, and heat for each kind of seed. _______ 7. Celso read about growing plants in water. He wanted to determine how plants could grow without soil. _______ 8. Jade said, “If I grow five seedlings under the sun, I think the plants will grow slower than the five plants grown inside the house.” _______ 9. Maria’s experiment proved that earthworms move away from light. _______ 10. Neil said, “If fertilizer affect the growth of pechay plant, it might affect the growth of cactus.” _______ 11. If the temperature changes then the amount of bread mold will change. _______ 12. Jaime wanted to find out the eating habits of dog. _______ 13. Aldrin put different fertilizers on pechay plants to see what fertilizer allows the pechay plant to grow faster. _______ 14. Plants placed in direct sunlight grow faster than plants which are kept with no sunlight. _______ 15. Sarah wanted to find out if the amount of rain has an effect on the growth of cactus.