Scientific process (or method, or inquiry) assignment
NS 150 8/30/04
Objectives
(1) To experience the scientific method for yourself by proposing hypotheses, designing an experiment to test your hypotheses and interpreting data.
(2) To meet other members of the class and work effectively in a group.
(3) To practice science writing and presentation skills.
Introduction to the assignment
For this assignment, you and your group members are a research team, charged with the responsibility of investigating one of the questions below, or one of your own. To do this, you will follow the scientific method. After you choose your question, you and your group will propose several possible answers to your question: your hypotheses. To test your hypotheses, you will design and carry out appropriate experiments. We will discuss the factors that contribute to designing appropriate experiments during class. Basically, imagine what testable observations you could make if one of your hypotheses were true then design an experiment in which you could make that observation. If you don’t see what you expected, then you must conclude that your hypothesis needs modification. When you carry out your experiment, you will take the data that you need to determine if your experiment was consistent with your hypothesis or not.
You will be given time in class on 9/1 to work on your project and you should expect to continue work with your group outside of class. You and your group will give a presentation on your project on either 9/13 or 9/15. All members of each group are expected to take an active role in the research work and the presentation, and the grading will reflect this goal (see the rubric below).
Sample questions
(1) Are all pantyhose equally resistant to runs?
(2) Are baked potato chips as filling as the full-fat version?
(3) Do men or women have better hand-eye coordination?
(4) Does Lewiston, Clarkston or Asotin have the best weather?
(5) Which cleaning solution best removes dried ketchup from fabric?
(6) Which hair product provides the best "hold"?
(7) Do you always pick the slowest line in the supermarket?
(8) Do heavier objects accelerate faster than lighter objects when falling?
(9) Is fatty food cheaper than non-fatty food?
(10) Is organically grown food more expensive than regular food?
(11) Do humanities or business faculty keep more office hours?
(12) A blue bottle question: Is ascorbic acid responsible for turning the clear solution back to blue?
(13) Another blue bottle question: Is copper sulfate responsible for turning the clear solution back to blue?
What you are expected to hand in and present
On 9/13 and 9/15, each group will give a 10 minute presentation (including 2 minutes for questions). The presentation is a maximum 100 point assignment and the points will be distributed as followed:
|
PRESENTATION COMPONENT |
Maximum points possible |
Title |
|
Is your title descriptive? |
5 |
INTRODUCTION |
|
|
Does your introduction include the question you are interested in? |
5 |
|
Does your introduction include the questions you answered? |
5 |
|
Does your introduction include your hypothesis? |
5 |
EXPERIMENTAL |
|
|
Do you include a narrative description of your experiment? |
10 |
RESULTS and DISCUSSION |
|
|
Do you present your results using tables or other clarifying figures? |
5 |
|
Do you summarize your data? |
5 |
CONCLUSIONS |
|
Do you discuss how your results were or were not consistent with your hypothesis? |
10 |
Do you discuss sources of error? |
5 |
Do you suggest ideas for future experiments? |
5 |
FORMAT |
|
Do you have an introduction, experimental, results/discussion and conclusion? |
5 |
|
Is the presentation clear and practiced? |
15 |
|
GROUP WORK |
|
|
Do all members of the group participate in the presentation? |
10 |
|
Did all members of the group do equal work? |
10 |
Additionally, a component of your portfolio score (you will hand that in for the first time on 9/15) will be for the notes you take on your project and your peer review. The notes that you take will include your question, your hypotheses, your experiments, your observations and measurements and you thoughts on your experiments. The peer review will be twofold. First, you will comment on the participation of the members of your group. Second, you will comment on the other students’ presentations. Details will be distributed later.
Date: 8/30/04
Contact: rajameton@lcsc.edu