1. The Scientific Method
Chemistry Honors

2. What is Science?
 “Science” derived from Latin ‘to know’
 Way of asking and answering questions
 Seeking answers to questions about
natural phenomena (we are therefore
limited to what kinds of questions we ask)
 Scientific thinking reduces emotional
reactions

3. Forms of Scientific Inquiry
 Discovery or Descriptive Science
– Observation
– Qualitative vs. Quantitative data

4. Types of Logic
 Inductive Reasoning
– Derive generalizations based on specific
observations

5. Types of Logic
 Inductive Reasoning
– Derive generalizations based on specific
observations
 Deductive Reasoning
- Specific predictions follow from general
premise

6. Forms of Scientific Inquiry
 Discovery or Descriptive Science
– Observation
– Qualitative vs. Quantitative data
 Hypothesis-Based Science

7. Scientific Design
 Scientific knowledge begins with an
observation and a proposed explanation.
 Explanation called a hypothesis
 A hypothesis is testable and falsifiable
 In science hypotheses are tested by using
them to make predictions about how a
particular system will behave

9. Theories and Natural Laws
 Theory: a description of the world that
covers a relatively large number of
phenomena and has met many
observational and experimental tests
 Law of Nature: theory (or group of
theories) that has been tested extensively
and seems to apply everywhere in the
universe-they become part of the
conceptual framework of a particular field

10. Scientific Method in Action
 We use the scientific method in everyday
life
 Example:
You got in your car to drive up here and
turned the key but the car wouldn’t start
(observation)

11. Scientific Method in Action
Example:
You got in your car to drive up here and
turned the key but the car wouldn’t start
(observation)
Hypothesis: There is something wrong with
the car

12. Scientific Method in Action
Example:
You got in your car to drive up here and
turned the key but the car wouldn’t start
(observation)
Hypothesis: There is something wrong with
the car
Predictions: battery dead, ignition problem,
out of gas

13. Scientific Method in Action
 Testpredictions: turn on headlights, check
spark plug wires, dip stick in gas tank

14. Scientific Method in Action
 Test predictions: turn on headlights, check
spark plug wires, dip stick in gas tank
 Analyze results: headlights work, strong
ignition spark, no gas on dip stick-gas
gauge reads half full

15. Scientific Method in Action
 Test predictions: turn on headlights, check
spark plug wires, dip stick in gas tank
 Analyze results: headlights work, strong
ignition spark, no gas on dip stick-gas
gauge reads half full
 Draw conclusion: gauge inaccurate, out of
gas

16. Important terms:
Independent (manipulated) variable: condition or
event under study (choose 1) .Graphing-x axis
Dependent (responding) variable: condition that
could change under the influence of the
independent variable (measure this). Y-axis
Controlled variables: conditions which could
effect the outcome of the experiment so they
must be held constant between groups.

17. experimental group: group(s) subjected
to the independent variable
control group: group not subjected to the
independent variable, used as measuring
stick
reproducibility: producing the same result
consistently to verify result. It is therefore
important to describe your experimental
design in enough detail for others to
perform the same experiment.

18. Example
 Hyp: King’s collar repels fleas
 Pred: Dogs wearing King’s collar will have
fewer fleas than those without collar
IV:
DV:
CV’s: