Chapter 1 Section 2

 Students will be able to:

◦ Describe the scientific method

◦ Determine the appropriate design of a controlled

experiment

◦ Form a hypothesis; Write prediction statements

◦ Use information in tables and graphs to analyze

experimental results
 Series of steps followed to solve problems

 Do you know what the steps are?

 Take a minute to write down the steps as

you know them…
Ask a question

Form a hypothesis

Test the hypothesis

Analyze the results

Draw conclusions

Communicate results
 “Could something in the water be causing
the frog deformities?”

 Make observation
◦ Gather information through your senses

◦ Accurately make and record your observations

 Hypothesis: a possible explanation or
answer to a question

 Based on your observations

 Can be tested

 Predictions : statement of cause and effect

that can be used to set up a test for a
hypothesis (if-then format)
 Figure 5 pg. 13 examples:

 Consider these questions:

◦ Is an unknown liquid water or rubbing alcohol?

◦ Can plants sense which way is up?

◦ Do cardinals prefer sunflower seeds to millet?

 Controlled experiments: tests only one
factor at a time; a control group and 1 or
more experimental groups.

 Only one factor differs, this is the variable

 Designing an experiment

 Collecting data
 Turn to pages 14-15, table 1 & figure 7 in your text

 Which of the aquariums shown are part of

the control group, and which are
experimental?

 If it was not labeled, how could you tell

which group was the control group?

 Other than the variable, what differences

are there between the groups?
 What steps should be taken before the eggs
in Fig. 7 are put in the aquariums?

 How might the experiment be compromised

(affected) if the environments varied in any
way?
 Organize your data (tables, graphs, etc.)

 Helps to explain and focus on effects of the

variable
 Do the results of the experiment support
the hypothesis?

 If not, need to find another explanation…

 Problems are rarely solved with just one

experiment
 Share with others to learn more and expand
your ideas

 Compare hypotheses

 Repeat experiments

 Develop new experiments and hypotheses

 Why is it important to have a control group
when doing an experiment?

 Why should a hypothesis be testable?