Overview of Scientific Method and Project Components - PowerPoint Presentation

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Overview of Scientific Method and Project Components

YCSEE Teacher Training

November 23, 2013

Project Components

Scientific Method

All

projects

must use the Scientific Method and must

contain a variable

(some change in the procedure where comparisons can be made) that has

been tested with

at least 5 trials

.

A demonstration project

models

a scientific concept or principle

without testing a variable

.

It displays facts or information and may be put on display, but

will not be judged

.

All the following components

must be included

in the project presentation except the extensive research paper which is optional.

The

problem, hypothesis, procedure, observations/results and conclusion

should appear on the presentations board.

All other materials are considered extraneous and should be placed with the display in any optional space, either on the board or on the table with the board.

Scientific Method

Observe

Do Research

Form a Hypothesis

Test the Hypothesis

Collect Data

Analyze Data

Draw Conclusions

Publish methods, results and conclusions for peer review

Observe/Do Research

You

observe

something (phenomena) and want to explain what you observe but cannot

May or may not be known by someone else or be a new phenomena

You

do research

about the idea to see if someone else has observed and described the same thing.

You go to the internet

You go to the library

You ask people who might know

You watch and observe phenomena

Project Components - Problem

PROBLEM

: The question to be tested.

Should

be stated as an interrogative sentence implying more than a yes or no response.

Should identify the independent variable (the factor that is changed or tested) and the dependent variable (what will be measured or should change).

Examples

:

What

is the effect of ___ on ___?

How

do/does____ affect____?

To

what extent do/

does____affect

____?

Form a Hypothesis

After research, gathered facts and some creative thinking are used to come up with a possible explanation.

I

nductive reasoning

--- using specific observations and the process of logic to come up with a

hypothesis

.

A hypothesis is…

an “

Educated Guess

”

based on the research and

not just a guess

testable

m

ust be phrased in such a way as to be tested

Project Components - Hypothesis

HYPOTHESIS

: An educated guess that outlines what is believed to be the intended outcome of the experiment.

Should

also contain a statement of why this outcome will be observed based on some kind of background knowledge.

Participant

may use any of the following models in helping them construct a hypothesis.

If

I _______then______, because_________.

__________,

when I ________ because___________.

If

I change ________ then________ will (change by) ______, because_______.

The

statement that _______ (is/is not) true because ________.

(

More/Less) ________ will _________, because _________.

Test a Hypothesis

You

do not prove your

hypothesis…you

falsify

it.

Experiments are designed to falsify the hypothesis by yielding evidence (data) to disprove it.

If the evidence (data) that is gathered

does support the hypothesis

, the hypothesis is

accepted on a trial basis only

.

It

is

never accepted as absolute truth

.

Future

investigations

may

falsify the hypothesis.

Project Components - Procedure

PROCEDURE

: A list of the steps used to conduct the experiment.

Each

statement should begin with an action verb and contain a description of the use of the constant, independent and dependent variables.

A

materials list should be included.

Indicate

a minimum of 5 trials

.

Collect/Analyze Data

Q

uantitative data

M

ore

easily reproducible and testable.

E

xplains

a specific situation with numbers and objective data

Qualitative data

D

eals

with conducting interviews and observing and recoding behavior

F

ocuses on process instead of outcomes

Data collection methods must be repeatable by others

After the data is collected it is

analyzed

Statistical tests are often used to describe data that has great amounts of variation

Project Components – Observation/Results

OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS

: Collected

quantitative data

from the experiment

.

Should

be displayed with a

chart, graph, pictures, log/journal or some other type of recording device

that accurately shows what happened while the experiment was being conducted.

Should

display

data collection of 5 or more trials

.

Project Components - Conclusion

CONCLUSION

: An interpretation/analysis of the observations/results of the experimental procedure

.

States

whether the hypothesis was or was not supported.

Answers

the question "What was learned?".

The

results should be interpreted and justified, but should not be stated as a proof.

May

contain a statement about further exploration.

Publish methods, results and conclusions for peer review

Peer review…

eliminate bias

allow for others to reproduce the experiment and determine if they get the same results

Types of Publications

Research Paper

Review Paper

Project Components – Narrative Report/Research paper

NARRATIVE

REPORT

: This 2-3 page, 12 font double-spaced document (if typed), excluding attached bibliography, is designed to help facilitate judging.

Cover

page is

optional

Should

give a brief overview of the project, a short review of research, and any other information that would provide evidence for assessing the

project

Bibliography

for :

4th

and 5th grade projects should contain one or more sources.

6th

through 8th grade projects should have a minimum of 3 sources.

9th

through 12th grade projects should have a

minimum of 5

sources

RESEARCH

PAPER

:

Optional for grades 4-8.

Mandatory

for grades 9-12

.

This

paper may be any length and should contain researched information that supports the

experiment

Should

contain a complete bibliography of sources and be placed with extraneous

materials

Poster Samples