Transcript Types of Scientific Investigations

The Practice of Science
TYPES OF SCIENTIFIC
INVESTIGATIONS
Bellwork: What do you know about
investigations?
1. You are in the science Lab and your friend tells you to make sure when you
measure to pay attention to the meniscus. Write 3 or 4 sentences describing
what a meniscus is, why you have to pay attention, and describe what piece of
laboratory equipment you are using and the units you will put after your
measurements.
2. t/f
EQ: What are
types and parts of
Scientific
Investigations?
Objective: I can describe the different kinds of scientific
investigations because I can identify which kind is being used.
SC.7.N.1.5
What are some types of scientific
investigations?
EXPERIMENTS
OBSERVATIONS
an organized procedure to study
something under controlled conditions
– information obtained by using the
senses
Include:
•FIELD STUDY
• IN THE LAB
•MODELS
May lead to a scientific experiment.
What are Types of
experiments: Field Study
When do the birds migrate to and from
our local park?
 A scientific study in which
the subjects are observed in
their natural habitat without
changing, harming, or
altering the setting or
subjects.
2. Controlled Experiment
in the lab
How does the amount of water affect how
quickly a surface heats up?
 A lab investigation in which
all variables are kept the
same except for one that is
being changedindependent or
manipulated
 and one that is measured
(dependent or responding
variable).
3. Model
How can the relative positions of the
Earth, Moon, and Sun explain different
kinds of eclipses?
 A simplified representation
of a system.
 Useful for studying systems
that are




too big,
too small,
too complex
too dangerous
to study directly.
Match each question to
the best type of investigation.
Investigation Question
1)
2
3
4
5.
How does applying different forces
to the Earth affect the type of
landforms that are created?
How does the temperature of the
water affect how tall the tomato
plant grows?
How does the air pressure change
with different types of weather?
How does the distance from the
lake affect the types of plants and
animals we see?
How does the time of month affect
the appearance of the moon
Type of Investigation
a) Field Study
b) Controlled Experiment
c) Model
d) observation
What are some parts of scientific
investigations?
1.Hypothesis –
 a testable idea or explanation that leads to an
investigation
 Often in the form of an IF -> THEN, BECAUSE
 If I paint my house white, then my air
conditioning bill will be lower because white
absorbs less heat.
2. variables
Label the independent, dependent and
controlled variables
What are the parts of a scientific
investigation
3. Data
 The numbers and information gathered by
experimentation that can be analyzed
What are some scientific methods

Scientists may follow many paths to conduct an investigation. One path a scientist might
follow:
What are some characteristics of a
good investigation?
Repetition
The same scientist does
many trials and gets the
same results – many trials
Replication
Other scientists perform the
same investigation and get
the same results
Identify the independent and
dependent variables in the following
investigations:
Students of different
ages were given the
same puzzle to put
together. They were
timed to see how long it
took to finish the puzzle.
Identify the variables in this
investigation:
Independent:
Dependent:
Conrolled:
.
What was the independent
variable?
 Ages of the students
 Different ages were tested by the
scientist
What was the dependent variable?
 The time it to put the puzzle together
 The time was observed and measured
by the scientist
What was a controlled variable?
 Same puzzle
 All of the participants were tested with
the same puzzle.
 It would not have been a fair test if
some had an easy 30 piece puzzle and
some had a harder 500 piece puzzle.
Hw: complete sponge bob variables
ws
Bellwork:
1. Create a Venn Diagram Comparing and Contrasting Field work and experiment in a
lab setting. Use the following words:
A. very controlled, B. cannot be controlled, C. weather may be a factor, D. type of
scientific investigation, E. very sterile, F. scientist can change conditions, G. obtain
info using senses
You want to investigate how plant height is affected by the hours of sunlight it receives.
2. What is the independent variable?
3. What is the dependent variable?
Classify each of the following as repetition or replication:
4. You go to the park 5 times and take notes on the birds that you see.
5. Your friend goes to the same park and takes notes on the birds that he sees
6. List some parts of the scientific method.
very controlled, cannot be controlled, weather may be a
factor, type of scientific investigation, very sterile,
scientist can change conditions, obtain info using senses
Mythbusters: Are elephants afraid of
Mice?

http://www.snotr.com/video/5304/Mythbusters__Are_elephants_afraid_of_mice
Exit: