Chapter 2 Lecture Notes

1
Name Hour Date

• Chapter 2 Lecture Notes
• Tools of Environmental Science

2
Section 1 Targets

• I can list and describe the steps of the
  scientific method.
• I can describe why a good hypothesis is not
  simply a guess.
• I can describe the two essential parts of a good
  experiment.
• I can describe how scientists study subjects in
  which experiments are not possible.
• I can explain the importance of curiosity and
  open-mindedness in science.

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The Scientific Method

• Scientific Method series of 5 steps scientists
  use to identify and answer questions.
• 1.
• Observation getting/using information by
• Observations can take many forms
• -Descriptions -Drawings
• -Photographs -Measurements
• Observations can be or

4
What are some Qualitative and Quantitative
Observations about the Following Photograph

• itative
• In the kitchen
• Golden retriever acting as a chef
• White hat/apron
• Blue oven mitt
• White stove/tile
• Brown cabinets
• TV in the corner
• titative
• 1 dog, stove, oven mitt, hat, apron
• Standing on 2 feet

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2. Hypothesizing and Predicting

• Hypothesis explanation based on .
• not merely a guess, it is an prediction.
• must be .
• should be stated in format.

3. Experimenting

• Good experiments have 2 essential
  characteristics
• a single is tested
• a is used.
• Variable the factor that in an experiment to
  test a hypothesis.

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Experimenting

• To test for one variable, scientists study two
  groups at one time, with a variable being the
  between the two groups.
• group exposed to the thing (variable) you
  are testing
• group used as a comparison.
• exactly the same as experimental group EXCEPT it
  is not exposed to the variable.

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4. Organizing and Analyzing Data

• Data information collected through or .
• Should be organized into or
• Data can be ITATIVE or TITATIVE

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5. Drawing Conclusions

• Scientists determine results of their experiment
  by data and the outcome of their
  experiments with their prediction.
• Repeating Experiments
• Scientists often experiments
• The more often an experiment can be repeated with
  the results, in different places and by
  different people, the more scientists become
  about the reliability of their conclusions.

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Characteristics of a Good Scientist

• OSCO
• O
• S
• C
• O
• United States
• Rivers Activity

10
Comprehension Check

• 1. How would a scientist categorize a testable
  explanation for an observation?
• A. a correlation
• B. an experiment
• C. an hypothesis
• D. a prediction

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Comprehension Check

• 2. Why is being skeptical important to a good
  scientific mind?
• willingness to travel
• an empathetic nature
• desire to conduct experiments
• continually questioning observations

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Comprehension Check

• 3. How many mussels are less than 25 mm in
  length?
• 6
• 9
• 12
• 15

13
Comprehension Check

• 4. Determine the total size of this population of
  dwarf wedge mussels.
• A. 60
• B. 80
• C. 100
• D. 120

14
Comprehension Check

• 5. What is the most likely size predictable for a
  mussel randomly drawn from this population?
• 1520 mm
• 2530 mm
• 3035 mm
• 4045 mm

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Section 3 Target

• I can describe four values that people consider
  when making decisions about the environment.

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Values and the Environment

• Scientific is an essential first step in
  solving environmental problems.
• before research can begin, an is
  usually needed.
• Values principles or
• standards an individual
• considers to be
• and affect
• environmental decision
• making.