Transcript Science in Our World

Scientific Investigations
and Collecting &
Interpreting Data
Carin Miranda
Smyrna Middle School
Mini School 6-B
2013
Scientific Methods
• Ways in which scientist solve
problems and answer questions
• Does not always go in order
• First step-asking a question.
• Do not have to use all the steps and
sometimes the steps are repeated.
• Purpose of the scientific method is
to answer questions
• Steps do not always support the
hypothesis.
The 7 Steps
• Ask a question
– First step
• Make an observation
– Something you notice based on the senses
• Form a hypothesis
– Possible explanation
• Test the hypothesis
– A controlled experiment test only one factor at a
time
• Analyze the results
– Scientist arrange data in graphs and charts
• Draw Conclusions
• Communicate results
Variables in
Experiments
• Independent-the thing you
change (cause)
• Control-the things that you keep
the same
• Dependent- the outcome (effect)
Common Experimental
Mistakes
• Testing more than 1 variable.
• Being biased.
• Not properly identifying all of
the controls.
• Making an error and ignoring it.
Scientific Models
• The purpose of models is to help
understand the natural world
and to represent things that are
too small to see
• A limitation of models is they
do not act exactly like the
things that they model.
Types of Models
• Physical-looks like what it is
trying to represent
• Mathematical-charts and
graphs
• Conceptual-based on a
thought or idea.
Tools
• Something that helps you do a
task
• There are tools to help you see
better, perform experiments,
measure things, and to help you
analyze your data.
Types of Graphs
• Bar-show data as different-sized
bars. Taller bars show larger
numbers.
• Line-line or arrow that shows change
over time.
• Circle-shows part to whole
relationship.
• Pictographs-like bar but uses
pictures.