Intro to Scientific

MethodBiology CPA

Designing and Experiment

Scientific Method Observation

Question

Form a hypothesis

Experiment

Data collection and analysis

Conclusion

Observation and Question

Begins with observing something in nature

2 types of observation Qualitative – using senses

Quantitative – measurement

Wondering how or what about it Ex:

Observation: Owls capture prey in the dark

Question: How do owls detect prey in the dark?

Hypothesis

Possible answers for question in mind that you can test with an experiment

Educated guess of how something occurs

Can be more than one Ex:

Owls hunt in the dark by vision

Owls hunt in the dark by hearing

Owls hunt in the dark by sensing body heat

Experiment

Design an experiment to test your hypothesis

Controlled experiment Control group

What you compare data to

Experimental group What you are testing for

Independent variable What is being tested for (ex: presence or absence of

light)

Dependent variable How the experiment responds (ex: if the owl can

catch its prey)

Collecting/Analyzing Data

Collecting Data Usually quantitative data

Compare experimental results to controlled results

Analyzing Data Compare results to other studies and refine

hypothesis

Create charts, graphs, tables to show data

Conclusion

Either supports or rejects your original hypothesis

If it supports Can move on to construct a theory

with research

If it rejects Refine and change hypothesis and

create new experiment