Inquiry Skills
Study Guide
(Observe,
Infer, Predict, Scientific Method)
What
is observing?
Observing
is using one or more of your senses to gather information about the world.
What
are your 5 senses?
Sight,
hearing, smell, taste, and touch are your five senses.
What
is information gathered from observations called?
data
or evidence
What
is the most basic skill in science?
Making
and recording observations is the most basic skill in science.
What
is an “accurate observation?”
An
accurate observation is an exact report of what your senses tell you.
What
is an “objective observation?”
An
objective observation avoids opinions or bias based on specific points of view.
There
are two forms of observations. What are
they?
qualitative
and quantitative
What
is a qualitative observation?
A
qualitative observation is a description that does not use numbers. If
you report colors, smells, tastes, textures, or sounds, you are making
qualitative observations.
What
is a quantitative observation?
A
quantitative observation is a description that includes numbers. If you
count objects or measure them with standard units (eg.: feet, inches, Celcius, Fahrenheit, grams,
pounds, etc.), you are making quantitative observations.
In
science, observations are kept separate from inferences (attempted explanations
of observations) because inferences MAY NOT be correct.
If
you have no tool to measure with quantitatively, what do you do?
Try
to estimate by referring to known standards such as: The stick was as long as an unsharpened
pencil.
What
does “inferring” mean?
Inferring
is explaining or interpreting an observation or statement.
What
are the two types of inferences?
reasonable
(LOGICAL)
inferences—a logical explanation that makes sense based on what a person knows
about the topic
unreasonable
inferences---concluding too much from the evidence
A
LOGICAL INFERENCE MUST MAKE SENSE IN TERMS OF EVERYTHING ELSE YOU KNOW!!!!!
ALWAYS
TRY TO MAKE MORE THAN ONE LOGICAL INFERENCE FROM THE SAME OBSERVATION!!!!!
IT
IS OKAY TO MODIFY, REJECT, OR REVISE YOUR INFERENCES.
What
is predicting?
Predicting
is making an inference about a future event based on current evidence or past
experiences.
A
PREDICTION IS AN INFERENCE! THEREFORE,
IT MAY NOT TURN OUT TO BE TRUE.
How
do you make a prediction in science?
Don’t
just guess!!!!!! Try to consider all the
experiences and knowledge you have about the topic. Examine any new information you can
obtain. Analyze data tables and graphs,
if available. THEN, make a reasonable
prediction based on everything you have considered.
Never
be discouraged if your prediction turns out to be false! The purpose behind a prediction is to learn
about the natural world. An incorrect
prediction may lead you to a new question and new predictions that will
increase your knowledge. J
What are the steps of the scientific method?
Design an Experiment-making
an organized plan to test a hypothesis
1.
Pose
a Question
2.
Develop
a Hypothesis
3.
Plan the Procedure
-Control
Variables
4.
Interpret the Data
5.
Draw Conclusions
What
makes a question scientific?
It
can be answered by observations, or evidence.
How
can we pose a question?
1-begin
by listing several questions on a topic about the natural world,
2-try
to eliminate questions that can’t be answered by gathering evidence,
3-break
broad questions into questions that can be investigated one at a time,
4-word
questions in a way that allows them to be answered by an investigation or
experiment.
What
is a hypothesis?
A
hypothesis is a possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific
question. IN SCIENCE, A HYPOTHESIS MUST
BE TESTABLE!!!!!
How
should a hypothesis be worded?
Try
to word each of your hypotheses in the form of an If…then…statement. Example: If I give my plants fertilizer, then they will grow as big as my
neighbor’s plants. (testable and
properly worded)
What
is a manipulated variable?
The
variable that you purposely change and test (Example: the temperature of the
room) is a manipulated variable.
What
does controlling variables mean?
An
experimental plan is not complete unless the experimenter controls all other
variables!!!!! CONTROLLING VARIABLES
MEANS KEEPING ALL CONDITIONS THE SAME EXCEPT FOR THE MANIPULATED VARIABLE.
Example: Will houseplants grow faster if you make the
room warmer? (posed question)
Controlled
variables:
Use
the same kind of plant.
Use
identical containers.
Use
the same type and amount of soil.
Use
the same type and amount of fertilizer.
Use
the same amount of water.
Use
the same lighting.
Manipulated
variable: the temperature of the room is
the only thing that will change in order to answer your question!
How
do we identify a control group?
The
groups being studied are called the experimental group and the control group.
The
CONTROL GROUP is the group whose conditions are NOT being changed.
The
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP is the group whose conditions are being changed.
What
is data?
Making
observations and taking measurements are called data.
How
do you interpret data?
1. Organize data into a table or arrange the data
in a specific order (such as largest to smallest).
2. Make a graph of
the data.
3. Look for trends
or patterns in the data or graph.
4. Make one or
more inferences from the data, then compare the inferences with what you
already know about the topic.
5. If your
inferences contradict what you know, review your work to see if you made any
mistakes or if you need to examine the data again.
What
does drawing a conclusion mean?
It
means making a statement summing up what you have learned from an
experiment. Don’t forget---the conclusion of an experiment is usually related to
the hypothesis!!!!! Your conclusion
should determine whether your experiment showed your hypothesis to be true or
false.
What
is a line graph?
A
line graph is used to display data that show how one variable (the responding
variable) changes in response to another variable (the manipulated
variable). LINE GRAPHS SHOW THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO VARIABLES!
How
is a line graph labeled?
The
horizontal axis (x-axis) and the vertical axis (y-axis) are placed on graph
paper. The horizontal axis should be
labeled with the name of the manipulated variable. The vertical axis should be labeled with the
name of the responding variable. ALWAYS
INCLUDE UNITS OF MEASURE WITH YOUR LABELS!
