+
Process of
Science
The Scientific Method
+
Ted Talk: David McCandless
The Beauty of Data Visualization
http://youtu.be/5Zg-C8AAIGg
+
Scientific Method
 One
of the goals of science is to answer questions
about how the world works.
 Scientific explanations are based on natural laws
and are testable.
 The
scientific method illustrates the way in which
science is done.
+
Scientific Method
 This
simplified flow
diagram of the
scientific method
shows the important
components involved
in a scientific study.
Observations
Hypothesis
Experiment/
Observations
Conclusion
Scientific
Theory
+
Scientific Method
 First
is the observation phase, where new
observations are made.
 This is also the time where previous data are
examined.
 Next, a
hypothesis is formulated to attempt to
explain the available data and observations.
 A hypothesis must be testable!!!
+
Scientific Method
 The
hypothesis is then tested through a series of
experiments and/or observations.
 These experiments and observations must be
repeatable!
 The factual information resulting from these
experiments and observations is called data.
+
Scientific Method
 An
important part of an experiment is the
control, which is a replicate set up exactly like
the experiment, except it does not have the
factor being tested.
 It is important to repeat an experiment exactly
the same way many times.
 Replicates
+
Scientific Method
 Independent
variable – the variable that you
manipulate.
 Example – size of a food item.
 Dependent
variable – the variable that you will
measure.
 Example – how long it takes to eat that food item.
+
Scientific Method
 Scientists
can then draw a conclusion based on
the data.
 The conclusion may involve accepting or
rejecting the initial hypothesis.
 Further experiments may require an adjustment
to the conclusions.
 Hypotheses are said to be supported, but not
proven.
+
Scientific Method
 New
hypotheses are generated from the
conclusions, and the process starts again.
+
Scientific Method
A
theory results when a group of related
hypotheses are supported by many experiments
and observations.
 Theories are the ideas that scientists are MOST
SURE OF!
 Theory of gravity
 Theory of evolution
Scientific Method
 The
previous model
is very simplified and
the result is too
linear.
 The
‘activity model’
for the process of
scientific inquiry
shows the more
complex interactions
that are really
involved.
Harwood, W. S. 2004. A new Model for Inquiry: is the Scientific Method Dead? Journal of
College Science Teaching. 33(7): 29-33.
+
Test-Taking
Skills
You’ve worked hard – now
do well on your exams!
+
How to Predict Test Questions
Ask questions about chapter headings.
 Come
up with as many questions as you can
about the chapter heading in 2-3 minutes (who,
what, where, when, why, how).
 Then read the section looking for answers to
those questions. Put answers on the other side of
the page. Takes less time than reading the
chapter multiple times.



Helps you concentrate
Provides you with a good study tool
Helps you on the test
+
How to Predict Test Questions
Creating your own study quizzes
 Uses
all the material in the chapter - not just
headings.
 Fill in the blank questions based on sentences in
your book.
 True/False Questions
+
How to Predict Test Questions
Studying with a partner or group

Be careful! Don’t turn it into a social event.

Everyone makes study quizzes for a certain set of chapters
and then exchange quizzes.

Then review each chapter quiz. If someone got one of the
questions wrong, discuss the answers. Explain the answer to
those that got it wrong.

Take home blank copies of the quizzes to practice later.

Come prepared to the study session! Be sure to have read all
of the chapters, not just the ones you are preparing questions
for.
+
Preparing for Tests
Problem #1 - Cramming - waiting until the last
minute to study
 Finish
 The
reading at least 3 days before test.
last two days are for review and rest.
+
How to Predict Test Questions
Problem #2 - Lack of knowledge about the test
 How
many questions will be on the test?
 How
much time will we be allowed for the test?
 Text
vs Lecture - where will questions come from?
+
How to Predict Test Questions
Problem #3 - So much material
 1/2
info is lost in the first 30 min after lecture reviewing right after lecture helps!
 We
can remember 7 things really well at one time.
When given a long list of terms, break it up into 7
items per page. Learn 7, take a break learn the
next 7 and so on.
+
How to Predict Test Questions
Problem #4 - Pride
 Help
is there for you! All you have to do is ask.
 Tutoring center, SI, study groups etc.
+
Test-Taking Skills
General strategies (these won’t help if you didn’t
study!):
 1)
Don’t study the morning of the test (light review
is fine if test is later in the day) unless you haven’t
finished reading - then go ahead and try to get in
as much as you can.
 2)
Arrive early (not too early or you will get
anxious) Aim to get there 5-15 min early. Take a
few deep breaths to relax before receiving the test.
 3)
Sit alone - avoid distraction. Don’t talk about the
test right before.
+
Test-Taking Skills
General strategies (these won’t help if you didn’t
study!):
 4)
Preview the test - what kind of questions are
there? How many?
 5)
 6)
Calculate - what time is the half-way point?
Go with your strength first - even if that means
not starting at #1.
+
Test-Taking Skills
T/F Questions
 Keywords
can help you!
 Everyone, no
one, always, every (100% qualifiers
no exceptions) (usually false).
 Frequently, most, some, few
(in between qualifiers)
(more often true).
 Double
it.
negatives - cross out both negatives & read
+
Test-Taking Skills
Essay tests

Before you start writing, make a quick outline to guide your
answer.

Things that drive teachers crazy: disorganized answers, not
answering the whole question or not answering the actual
question that was asked.

Incorporate the question into the answer.

Develop your points.

Watch out for spelling and grammar errors.

Make it legible.
+
Test-Taking Skills
Multiple Choice Tests
 Be
a two handed test taker - cover choices with
your left hand. Read the question and come up with
the answer. THEN look for the answer in the list of
choices.

Possible results:




Your answer is there - yay!
Not there - skip it and come back later
Challenging - try to get it, then skip it
Impossible - when you don’t recognize at all
+
Test-Taking Skills
Multiple Choice Tests

Then go back through and answer the ones you skipped - on
many of them you will come up with the answer.

The “impossible” ones will be left. Should be just a few.

Wait until the very end to answer the impossible ones. Then
go ahead and guess.
+
Test-Taking Skills
Multiple Choice Tests

The order is important so that you get to answer all the easy
ones before running out of time.

Covering the choices first helps you avoid falling for trick
questions. Come up with the answer first.

Be very aware of what number you are answering so you
don’t mess up the scantron!

Don’t panic! Even if you can’t answer the first several
questions, skip & move on. Find something you know to warm
up with.