Chemistry
Name _____________________
Pd _____
Scientific Inquiry: Ch.1
Scientific Inquiry
Objectives
1. Apply the scientific method to planning and developing laboratory
exercises.
2. Demonstrate lab safety through proper use of laboratory equipment
and identify misuse of equipment.
3. Formulate a testable hypothesis using statements such as “If, then,
and because.”
4. Make observations of chemical processes.
5. Identify relevant variables (Independent, Dependent, Controlled) and explain how
to manipulate them.
6. Collect, organize, analyze, predict, infer, evaluate reliability and validity of data.
7. Communicate scientific concepts effectively as a team.
8. Relate scientific principles to everyday life.
9. Interpret and use models and diagrams.
10. Generate questions for further research.
11. Reflect upon the scientific process and outcomes.
Your Score
Logical thinking ___
Creative thinking ___
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What is Science?
☺The goal of science is to;
1.) investigate and understand the__________ _________,
2.) ________ _________ in the natural world, and
3.) use those explanations to make _________ ____________.
Thinking like a Scientist:
o observation – process of gathering information (or the info itself) about
events or processes in a careful, ___________ way
o data – the information gathered from _____________
__________________
1. quantitative data – obtained by ____________ or _______________
2. qualitative data – descriptions and characteristics that don’t involve
counting
o inference – logical interpretation of data based on prior
_________________ & _______________
Explaining and Interpreting Evidence:
o hypothesis – proposed ____________ explanation for a set of
_____________
o Often stated in an “If…then…because…” format
 “If”- (give the conditions including the _________ of the
manipulated/_______________ variable)
 “then” - (state what you predict the responding or dependent
variable will do – __, __, or remain the _________)
 “because” - briefly give the ___________ _________ for that
prediction
Variables and Groups:
independent (manipulated) variable - the variable that is deliberately
changed, the _______________
dependent (responding) variable - the variable that is measured, the
________
controlled variables - other factors in an experiment that a scientist
purposely keeps the same (to make it a fair test)
experimental group – the group with the ____________ _______ of the
independent variable or treatment
control group – the group where the level of the independent variable (the
treatment) is “_________” or_______, the _____________ group
Set up a Controlled Experiment:
☺Whenever possible, a hypothesis should be tested by an experiment in
which only one variable (treatment) is changed at a time. All other variables
should be kept unchanged or controlled.
This is known as a _____________ experiment.
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How Scientists Work
o spontaneous generation – belief that life could arise from ________________ _____________
 Ex: ______ come from an abandoned pile of _______
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Designing an
Experiment
Redi’s Famous Experiment -
Observations:
 Flies land on meat that is left ______________.
 A few ______ later, maggots _____________ on the meat.
Hypothesis:
_________________________________________________________
Manipulated/Independent Variable: __________________________________
Responding/Dependent Variable: ___________________________________
Controlled Variables:
- ____________________
- ____________________
- ____________________
- ____________________
- ____________________
Is there a control group? _____
Conclusion: Maggots form__________________________________________.
Spontaneous generation of maggots ______________________.
Recording and Analyzing Data:
Written records in lab notebooks (now on laptops)
1. Organized into data ___________ then
2. Transformed into __________ to see _________ & relationships (see pg.
25)
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Drawing Conclusions:
1. Does the data __________ the hypothesis?
2. Explain how the data does or doesn’t – be__________, like a
__________in court!
3. Suggestions for improvement – if the experiment was done over, what
would make it a ________ or __________ test?
4. Suggestions for further research – might a different __________ be better
to investigate, or do your results raise other questions?
The answer to the last question is always, “______!”
Repeating Investigations:
or Do you want to take a new drug that’s only been tested once on one person?
o Are the results repeatable? Are the _______ results always achieved?
 If not, was the procedure clear?
o reliability – _____________ of a set of __________________ (or the
measuring instrument)
 Common Problems – errors & inconsistencies in reading the
instrument, sample size too _______, too ______ readings taken
o validity – how well did the experimental method actually measure what it
was ___________________________________?
Scientific Theories:
☺In science, the word theory applies to a well tested explanation that
unifies a broad range of observations. Theories must have evidence to
back them up.
o well-tested _____________ → theory
o well-tested __________ rarely → law
Characteristics of a Good Experiment
1. Can be ____________ by anyone & get the _________ results
2. ________ sample size/________ test subjects
3. Performed over _______ periods of time
4. Tests only one (independent) ___________
5. Peer-reviewed – examined by several ____________ to determine
accuracy
6. Does ______ have to agree with hypothesis – a scientist’s prediction is
allowed to be___________ – and often is
7. Is objective – fair & unbiased, fact (_______________) & opinion
(______________) are clearly separated
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