What is Science?
Science is:
The study of
processes/observations that
determines information.
Types of Sciences:
Name of the
Science:
Ecology
Biology
Ornithology
Icthology
Chemistry
Botany
Zoology
Area of
Study:______
Environment
Life
Birds
Fish
Chemical Rxn
Plants
Animals
Characteristics of Science:
 Gather
background information
 Observations
 Predications
 Experimentation
 Data analysis
 Form a conclusion
Steps of the Scientific Method
1. Make predictions
that identify a
solution or lead to
a conclusion.
2.



Note any observations
that may give you
some idea of a
possible answer. This
involves:
Descriptions
Drawings/Photographs
Using your senses
3.
Form a hypothesis, which is an
educated guess. A good hypothesis
tells you two things:
A.
What you think is going to happen
B.
Why or how that is going to
happen.
Example:

Use an if, then
statement
If phosphate is
increased, then the
algae population
will increase due to
nutrient overload.
4.
Conduct an experiment,
collect data, and
analyze the results.
Types of data:
a. Quantitative- use of
numbers
Ex: ages, height, mass
b. Qualitative- description
Ex: animal behavior
Parts to an Experiment:
 Constants-
holding variables the
same.
 Control- anything that does not
receive an experimental treatment
(compare)
 Variables:
– Dependent variable- what you are
measuring
– Independent variable- what is causing
the change
 Analyzing
results often means
making a graph or data table.
5.
Draw a conclusion: scientist accept
or reject the original hypothesis.
This can lead to new questions and
start the process again.
*Always support your claims with
data.
Hypothesis vs. Theory

A theory is different from a hypothesis:
A hypothesis is an educated guess based
only on a small amount of information.
Ex: If I eat vegetables, then I will be
healthier.
A theory is an explanation of many facts
and how they are related and work
together to explain a phenomenon.
Ex: Evolution
Ecology
 Study
of the relationship between
the biotic (living) and abiotic
(nonliving) factors in the
environment.
 Ex of abiotic factors: temp, sunlight,
soil, water, etc.
 Ex of biotic factors: plants, bacteria,
animals, etc.