Understanding the Scientific Method: Observation, Hypothesis, Experiment, and Conclusion, Slides of Human Biology

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Pure Science - pursuit of knowledge

Applied Science - search for practical uses of scientific knowledge

Science

A way of investigating the world in order to form general rules about why things happen

tetradoxin

Pain relief in terminal cancer patients

Hypothesis: Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer.

Hypothesis: Infants who are breast fed are smarter than infants who are given formula.

Hypothesis: Shark cartilage inhibits blood vessel formation to tumors.

Hypothesis: Exercise makes people happy.

Scientific statements must be testable and reproducible (i.e., valid & reliable).

Observation:

The car won’t start when I turn the ignition.

Question:

Hypothesis:

Test hypothesis:

Analyze Results:

Draw Conclusion:

New hypothesis:

Scientific Method

• Conduct Experiment
  • Process of testing a hypothesis or prediction by gathering data under controlled conditions
  • Control vs Experimental Group Control group: a group that has not been exposed to some factor (variable) Experimental group : a group that has been exposed to the factor (variable)

Independent variable (IV): the variable you manipulate that you believe will affect the DV Dependent variable (DV): the outcome variable, i.e., variable you measure

• Collect, organize, analyze data
  • Determine whether data is reliable
  • Determine whether data supports or does not support the hypothesis or prediction
  • May use statistics
    • Compare data from other studies
    • Determine relationships
    • Determine experimental error

Scientific Method

• Drawing Conclusions
  • To understand something not previously

understood

• To produce a model
  • Construct a representation of an object, a system, or a process to help show relationships given the data
  • A model is an explanation supported by data
  • Use the model to generate new hypotheses or predictions

Scientific Method

When scientists publish they

never say "results prove...“

but rather "results

suggest..." or "results

provide support for..."

Sample Size: The larger the sample size, the better. A larger sample size tends to give you a closer estimate of the true population mean.

Normal Curve

Frequencyin population

Experimental Design

1. Observation
2. Question
3. Form Hypothesis
4. Test Hypothesis
5. Results
6. Discussion

The Blind Men and the Elephant (Saxe; 1816-1887)

I.

It was six men of Indostan To learn much inclined, Who went to see the elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy their mind.

II. The First approached the elephant, And happened to fall Against his broad sturdy side, At once began to bawl: “Bless me!—but the Elephant is very like a wall!”

V.

The Fourth reached out his eager hand, And felt about the knee. “What most this wondrous beast is like Is might plain’” quoth he; “‘T is clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!”

VI. The Fifth , who chanced to touch the ear, Said, “E’en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can, This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!”

VII.

The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, “I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a rope!”

VIII. And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each with his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!