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Bio Expiremental Design Slides

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8 views

Bio Expiremental Design Slides

Uploaded by

Madeline
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experimental Design

Biology
Ms. Ducote
Ursuline Academy
Testable Questions
• A testable question can be answered by
designing and conducting an experiment
• A non-testable question cannot be
answered by designing an experiment
• Guidelines
– Needs to have an answer and be tested
• Why is that a tree? Vs What is a tree made of?
– Can be measured
• Plant growth with different variables
– Builds on what you already know
– Leads to other good questions
• Practice
Hypothesis

• Start with a testable question and design a


hypothesis
• A hypothesis is a proposed explanation that is
a starting point for an experiment
• Format: If…then…because
Independent and Dependent Variables

• An independent variable is the variable that is changed or


controlled in an experiment to test the effects on the
dependent variable
• A dependent variable is the variable being tested and
measured
• If IV then DV because…
• Practice
Qualitative and Quantitative Data
Qualitative Data Quantitative Data

•Deals with descriptions •Deals with numbers


•Data can be observed but not •Data which can be measured
measured •Length, height, area, volume, weight,
•Colors, textures, smells, tastes, speed, time, temperature, humidity,
appearance, beauty, etc. sound levels, cost, members, ages, etc.

Qualitative → Quality Quantitative → Quantity

Examples: Examples:
•blue/green color, gold frame •picture is 10" by 14"
•smells old and musty •with frame 14" by 18"
•texture shows brush strokes of oil •weighs 8.5 pounds
paint •surface area of painting is 140 sq. in.
•peaceful scene of the country •cost $300
•masterful brush strokes
Practicing with Qualitative and
Quantitative Data:

• It is about 10 centimeters in diameter.


• The flame begins about 1-cm above the top of
the candle.
• The flame is a shade of blue at its base.
• The length decreased during the observation
period.
• The flame has sharply defined sides but a
ragged top.
Graphing
• Visual representations of numerical data
• Helps us to see patterns
• See at a glance what happened in an
experiment
Line Graph
• Shows a relationship between two sets of
numbers
Bar Graph
• Shows a distribution of measurements among
a particular group of objects
Parts of the Graph
• X axis
– Horizontal
– Independent Variable
• Y axis
– Vertical
– Dependent Variable
• Number Scale
– Sequence of numbers
– Not necessarily the same on both axes
– The point at which the X and Y axes meet is where the
graph begins (“0”)
Independent Variables Dependent Variables
Determine the value of the variables Are determined from independent
variables
Can be manipulated by the experiment Should not be manipulated
controller
Experimental Design (Continued):
•Experimental Group –
– The group in the experiment that the IV is applied to

•Control Group –
– The group in the experiment that no variable is applied to
– Allows the experimenter the opportunity to see what would
happen under “normal” conditions

•Constants –
– Things that stay the same throughout the experiment
– They remain unchanged to ensure that the experimenter can see
the effects of the IV without any disruptions or changes

•Trials –
– How many times your repeat the experiment
– In the classroom setting, usually 3-5 times
– Reproducibility of the results is important
Experimental Design Practice
Experimental Design Practice
More Practice
Baking Soda & Vinegar
Class Experiment
•Teacher Demo (Control Group)
•Choose a variable to test (either amount of baking soda or
amount of vinegar)
– Only ONE must change, the other will remain CONSTANT
•Each group will conduct 3 trials and record the data into a
data table (example below)
Amount of
OR Amount of
Baking Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Vinegar
Soda
40ml
2 tsp.
50ml
3 tsp.
4 tsp. 60ml

Record your circumference in cm and graph your data


Mini Lab Report – Due Next Class
•Hypothesis
–“If…then…because”
•Data Table
•Graph
•Conclusion Paragraph
– 3-5 sentences
•Describe your data and any trends that occurred on
your graph
•Remember to use words like “increase, decrease,
fluctuate, stabilize, etc.”
–Was your hypothesis supported or not?
•Use your data to explain why or why not

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