Waiting
Login processing...

Trial ends in Request Full Access Tell Your Colleague About Jove

A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content.

Education
Scientific Method
 

Scientific Method

Learning Objectives

At the end of this lab, students should know...

What is the scientific method?

The scientific method is a framework for solving problems, investigating the world around us, or describing phenomena.

How is the scientific method used?

Everyone uses it to solve day-to-day problems, but scientists use it to prove or disprove hypotheses in order to further our understanding of the natural world.

What is a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a well-considered suggestion as to the outcome of an experiment. It is always based on prior knowledge about a system. A null hypothesis is one that is thought to be the opposite of true, so it can then be falsified (shown to be false).

What is a variable and what are the different types?

Controlled or independent variables are under the researcher’s control and should be held constant between all experimental groups. Dependent or response variables are a way of measuring the outcome of modifying the independent variables.

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?

Qualitative data is essentially a list of observations made to describe a system or phenomenon, whereas quantitative data involves the collection of numerical data which can be statistically analyzed.

List of Materials

  • Scissors
    1
  • Ruler
    5
  • White paper
    5
  • Tree branches (minimum)
    5 per group
  • Leaf clippers
    1 per station
  • Precision balance
    Dependent on the lab size

Lab Prep

  1. Demonstrating the Scientific Method with Tree Branches
    • Obtain branches containing a few dozen typical leaves from five different local tree species. The branches should represent a range of leaf and tree types.
    • Label each branch and leaf with their species name.
    • Distribute the branches to the students, so that each student has access to all five species.
    • Provide some background information about the environment from which each branch was collected.

Tags

JoVE Lab Lab: 1 Prep

Get cutting-edge science videos from JoVE sent straight to your inbox every month.

Waiting X
Simple Hit Counter