Cornell Notes Unit: The Nature of Life Name: Mr.

Reed
Chapter: The Science of Biology Class/Period: BIO 3
rd

Lesson: What Is Science? Date: 8/19/14
Big Idea: Science as a Way of Knowing
Essential Question: What role does science play in the study of life?
Guiding Question: How do we find explanations for events in the natural world?
Questions/Main Ideas: Notes:

I. Scientific Methodology: The Heart of Science

Involves:

Observing and asking questions
Making inferences and forming hypotheses
Conducting controlled experiments
Collecting and analyzing data
Drawing conclusions

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a. Observing and Asking Questions
Start w/ observation the act of noticing and describing events or process in a
careful, orderly way.
EX Observation = grass grows taller in some
places than others Question = Why do
grasses grow to diff heights in diff places?

b. Inferring and Forming a Hypothesis
?s + more observation inferences logical interpretations based on what
is already known
Inference can hypothesis a scientific
explanation for a set of observations that can
be tested in ways that support or reject it
EX Inferred something limits grass growth
hypothesized growth limited by nitrogen

c. Designing Controlled Experiments
Testing hypothesis = designing controlled experiment w/ variables (EX temp,
light, time, etc.)
When possible, only one variable changed; other variables unchanged
(controlled); known as controlled experiment
EX Similar plots of grass (same plant density,
soil type, freshwater and height
above tide); Divided into control & experimental
groups
EX CONT Independent variable = nitrogen
fertilizer, added to experimental
groups; Dependent variable = growth of grass
observed in experimental & control groups


What procedures are at
the core of scientific
methodology?



How do scientific
investigations begin?



What is the difference
between an observation
and an inference?




How do you test a
hypothesis?

Why are hypotheses so
important to controlled
experiments?




Questions/Main Ideas: Notes:

i. Controlling Variables
Control variables = know which variable responsible for results
Variable changed on purpose = Independent variable/manipulated variable
Variable observed and changes in response to IV = Dependent
variable/responding variable

ii. Control and Experimental Groups
Experiments divided into control & experimental groups
Control group Exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group
except for one independent variable
Many sets control & experimental groups goal = replicate observations

d. Collecting and Analyzing Data
Record experimental observations; gathered info = data; 2 types: quantitative &
qualitative
Quantitative data = numbers;
EX experiment = # plants/plot, plant sizes,
and growth rates
Qualitative data = descriptive/characteristics;
EX experiment = notes about foreign
objects in plots, or whether the grass was
growing upright or sideways

i. Research Tools
Collect/analyze data; include:
meter sticks, machines, charts and
graphs, etc.
EX graph shows grass height changed
over time
Past = recorded by hand,
today = computers

ii. Sources of Error
Careful to avoid errors in data collection/analysis; EX experiment tools used
to measure size/weight of grasses = limited accuracy
Carefully choose data analysis & sample size; large sample size = more
reliable analysis between experimental & control groups

e. Drawing Conclusions
Use experimental data support, refute,
or revise hypothesis & draw conclusion
EX graph analysis shows grasses grew
taller than controls by adding nitrogen
New data may mean some right some
wrong = revise hypothesis, new
predictions made, new experiment
designed
May need revise hypothesis many times
before final hypothesis supported &
conclusions drawn
Why do scientists control
variables in experiments?

What are the differences
between an independent,
dependent and control
variables?

Explain what control and
experimental groups are.

Compare and contrast
quantitative and
qualitative data. Provide
an example of each.



How do scientists record
and analyze during
experiments?



Why is it better to have a
larger sample size?



When drawing
conclusions, experimental
data is used to do what
with the hypothesis?





Questions/Main Ideas: Notes:

f. When Experiments Are Not Possible
Not always possible test hypothesis w/ experiment; rather, test w/ observations
EX Animal behavior researchers observe animals interact in wild, then analyze
data, make hypotheses & test them
Sometimes ethics prevents experiments especially on humans
EX Suspect chemical causes cancer use volunteers who have been exposed to
chemical & compare to volunteers who have not been exposed to chemical
Still control variables exclude volunteers w/ serious health problems
Always try to study large groups of subjects = more reliable/better results
How do you test
hypotheses when
experiments are not
possible?


Why do scientists study
large groups of subjects?

Summary: Scientific methodology involves observing and asking questions, forming inferences and hypotheses,
conducting controlled experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. First, come
observations, which are the act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way. Secondly,
the observations lead to questions and inferences, which are logical interpretations based on what scientists already
know. These inferences can lead to a hypothesis, which is a scientific explanation for a set of observations that can
be tested in ways that support or reject it. Third, the hypothesis is tested by an experiment in which only one variable
is changed. All other variables should be kept unchanged, or controlled. This type of experiment is called a
controlled experiment. Variables in this experiment must be controlled and include independent and dependent
variables. Also, the experiment is divided into control and experimental groups. Fourth, the experimental
observations are recorded as either quantitative or qualitative data. Research tools are used to collect and analyze
the data. Scientists carefully avoid sources of error in data collection and analysis and chose large sample sizes for
their experiments so that they have the most reliable results possible. Lastly, conclusions are drawn from
experimental data in which the hypothesis is either supported, refuted or revised. The hypothesis may need to be
revised multiple times before an accurate conclusion can be made. Sometimes testing a hypothesis with an
experiment is not possible and in these cases, they are typically tested with observations. The variables are still
controlled and a large group of subjects is desired in order to produce more reliable results.