science everything we know went through a testing process – experimental design, scientific...
TRANSCRIPT
Science
• Everything we know went through a testing process – Experimental Design, Scientific
Process, Scientific Method
Observation vs. Inference
Observation: can be made with only the five senses (sight, touch, hear, taste, and
smell)
Observations not guesses, assumptions or opinion.
Inference: logical assumption based off of prior knowledge or after very limited
observation
ObservationsTwo types of observations:
– Qualitative observation• descriptions • observed (not measured) • Ex. Colors, textures, smells, tastes, appearance, etc. • Qualitative → Quality
– Quantitative observation• numbers • measured • Ex. Length, height, area, volume, weight, speed, time,
temperature, humidity, sound levels, etc. • Quantitative → Quantity
Observation or Inference?
• It is blue.
Observation or Inference?
• It is old.
Observation or Inference?
• It must be a ball.
Observation or Inference?
• There are 9 tentacles.
Hypothesis• Educated prediction made from various
observations- It is NOT guess! • Useful only if it can be tested.
• If I do this (manipulated variable), then I think this will happen (responding variable) because………
The Experiment: experimental design
• Setting up an experiment– Control group (generally what is “normal”)• Controlled variables
– Experimental group• Variables: –Manipulated variable (independent variable)– Responding variable (dependent variable)
Why only have one manipulated variable per experiment?
Data collection
• Large sample size• Use of a data table– Variables easy to identify– Measurable results
• Outliers can cause data distortion– How can you recognize outliers?
• Multiple trials give most accurate results
• After an experiment is complete:– Results, more testing, new hypotheses, more experiments, more results…
and on and on
– work is usually published– Peer review process- Experiments must be successfully repeated by other
scientists– After many years, after many scientists, lots of supporting evidence, new
theories are accepted
Atomic Theory Cell theory Germ Theory
Theory vs Law
• Law– Explains one topic– No longer adding evidence to laws
• Theory– Explains a multiple hypotheses– Unifies evidence from multiple studies– Continually adding evidence to theories