1.1.

2 The Scientific Method

Process of the Scientific Method

Learning Objectives - Biology
Definition of the term Biology?

Name and explain at least three areas of study

incorporated in Biology?
Definition for Biology

BIOLOGY is the study of living things

Biology has many different areas of study
 Anatomy
 Biochemistry
 Botany
 Ecology
 Genetics
 Microbiology
 Physiology
 Zoology
Anatomy
 The study of the
internal and external
structure of plants
and animals
 Biochemistry
 The study of the
chemical processes
and products
involved in
metabolism

Mikael Haggstrom – Wikimedia Commons

Botany
 The study of plant
structure,
physiology,
distribution and
classification
Learning Objectives – Scientific Method
 State the process of the Scientific Method

 State the limitations of value of the Scientific

Method

 State some possible sources of errors

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The Scientific Method
 The scientific method is a way to solve a
problem

 This is the method on which all projects

should be based.

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The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method involves the following steps:

 Making observations
 Formulating a hypothesis
 Designing a controlled experiment
 Collecting and interpreting data
 Forming a conclusion
 Comparing the conclusion with existing
knowledge
 Reporting and publishing the results
 Developing theories and principles 10
Steps in the scientific method
• You observe something using your senses
Observation
• You ask a question about what you
Question observed. State it as a problem or question
•.

Hypothesis • Hypothesis: a testable‚ tentative answer to

a question
• You predict what you think the answer to
Prediction your question might be.
• You design a way to test whether your
Test hypothesis is correct or not.
• Record and analyze data
• You do the experiment(s) using the method you
Results came up with and record the results.

• You state whether your prediction was

Conclusions confirmed or not and try to explain your results.

• Compare your findings to existing knowledge

Compare 11
Observation

 You observe something using your senses or

machines which are basically extensions of
those senses.

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Question

 You ask a question about what you observed.

State it as a problem or question.

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Learning check
 What are the steps in the Scientific Method?

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Hypothesis
 Hypothesis: a testable‚ tentative answer to
a question
(hypo = under‚ beneath; thesis = an
arranging)

You predict what you think the answer to your

question might be. The hypothesis is a
testable explanation for what was observed.

The scientist tries to explain what caused

what was observed.
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Experiment

 You figure out a way to test whether your

hypothesis is correct or not. The outcome
must be measurable. (quantifiable)

 Record and analyze data.

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Result

 You do the experiment(s) using the method

you came up with and record the results.

 You repeat the experiment to confirm your

results.

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Learning check

What is the next step?

 The Conclusion

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Conclusion

 You state whether your prediction was

confirmed or not and try to explain your
results.

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Compare

 You compare your conclusion with existing

knowledge.

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Finally
 You Report and Publish your results.

 You Develop a theory or principle.

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Need to know
 State the process of the Scientific Method

Explain the following:

 Observation ■ Hypothesis
 Design Experiment
 Record & Analyze Data
 Conclusions
 Compare to Existing Knowledge,
 Reporting ■ Theory ■ Principle

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1.1.2 The Scientific Method

Limitations of the Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

 Is limited by the extent of our basic knowledge

 Is limited by our ability to interpret the results

 is limited to what can be observed with the five

senses e.g., what existed prior to the Big Bang and
the known universe is outside of the realm of science
to investigate

 is limited by the changes in the natural world

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 Limitations of the Scientific Method

 tells us “how” a process works, not “why” e.g., does

not really explain why the Universe exists

 inability to answer value-based questions involving

“should”

 may be affected by the emotional involvement of

investigator

 may be affected by time pressure for results

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Limitations of the Scientific Method
 inability to capture the full richness and
complexities of the participants

 limitations of our measurement instruments

 ethical and legal responsibilities

 Religious beliefs

 we can never be sure all untested variables

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are controlled
Limitations of the Scientific Method
 conclusions based on the experimental data
must remain tentative

 human personality traits are part of “real

science”

 scientists sometimes make mistakes

 accidents, lucky guesses, intellectual powers,

and controversies with others contribute
strongly to scientific advances 27
Need to know
 State the limitations of value of the Scientific
Method

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Learning objectives Experimentation

Can you state about eight principles of

experimentation?

Planning & Design Random Selection

Safety Procedure Replicaton
Control Experiment Double-Blind Testing
Sample Size Sources of errors
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 What is an experiment?

1. An experiment is a controlled test.

2. Only one variable should be changed at a time.
a. Independent variable – changed by the
experimenter.
(Hint: I change the Independent variable)
b. Dependent variable (Responding) – the effect.

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 What is an experiment?

3. Constants do not change.

4. Controlled variables are those which could
change, but are not allowed to.
5. Two parts to an experiment:
a. Control group – normal conditions.
b. Experimental group(s) – variables are
changed.
6. Prediction is the goal of experiments.

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 How to organise an experiment
OR
The Principles of Experimentation

1. Plan and design 6. Use Double-blind

the experiment testing
2. Be aware of Safety 7. Change one factor
procedures at a time
3. Select organisms 8. Measure changes
at random 9. Analyze the results
4. Use a large 10. State possible
enough sample sources of error
size 11. Repeat the
5. Use a control experiment 32
group
Learning check
What is an experiment?
 It is a controlled test where only one variable
is changed at a time.

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An example of an experiment

Observation: It has been suggested that large

daily doses of Vitamin C protect against the
common cold virus.

Hypothesis: Vitamin C protects against the

common cold virus

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 An example of an experiment

Experiment design: Ten adult males in their

mid twenties who are friends of the
investigator were chosen to test the possible
value of vitamin C.
5 of them were given 3000mg of vitamin C a
day; the other 5 were given a placebo.
Which is the control group?
Which is the experimental group?
Is this a good experiment?
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Problems with experiment design

All males
All mid twenties
All friends
Not a large enough sample

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A Good Experiment

Should
 Have only one variable
 Use a large number of samples
 Use random selection
 Be repeated
 Use double blind testing

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 Learning objectives
Experimentations
Can you state about eight principles of
experimentation?

Planning & Design Random Selection

Safety Procedure Replicaton
Control Experiment Double-Blind Testing
Sample Size Sources of errors
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END

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