This book teaches students about the science process and prepares them for applying science skills at a higher learning level. Students develop basic research skills and continue onto advanced skills needed for developing complex experiments, writing formal research papers, and presenting scientific research.
FEATURES:
- Students actively participate using this student version of Students and Research
- Safety precautions are listed at the beginning of the book
- Chapter objectives provide a clear summary of what students can expect to learn
- Perforated pages and worksheets make it convenient and easy to use
- Various levels of sophistication so students begin with structured activities, do practice problems, and then reach the world class level where they design their own experiments
- Classroom sets provide a complete classroom resource for students and teachers
- Focuses on Standard A for the Science Contest Standards for grades 5-8 and 9-12 of the National Science Education Standards (NSES)
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1 Developing Basic Concepts
Designer Planes
Investigation 1.1 Designer Planes
Hot Solutions
Investigation 1.2 Hot Solutions
Summarizing Measurements and Count Data
Observations: A Type of Data
Summarizing Observations of Data
Searching the Web
Practice
Chapter 2 Applying Basic Concepts
Checking the Design
Learning from Scenarios
Compost and Bean Plants
Activity 2.1 Design Detective
Metals and Rusting Iron
Perfumes and Bees: Behavior
Fossils and Cliff Depth
Aloe vera and Planaria
Evaluating Your Experimental Design Skills
Practicing Your Skills
Searching the Web
Practice
Chapter 3 Generating Experimental IdeasThe Four Question Strategy
Applying the Four Question Strategy
Prompts for Brainstorming Ideas for Experiments
Practicing Your Skills
Evaluating Your Responses to the Four Questions
Searching the Web
Practice
Chapter 4 Describing Experimental ProceduresFrom Brainstormed Ideas to Experimental Design to Procedure
Brainstorming Ideas
Clarifying Experimental Components
Experimental Design
Visualizing Steps
Using Safe Procedures
Evaluating Your Procedures
Safety Procedures
Practicing Your Skills
Searching the Web
Practice
Chapter 5 Constructing Tables and GraphsConstructing Data Tables
Evaluating Your Skills with Data Tables
Constructing Line Graphs
Investigation 5.1 Time and Absorption
Evaluating Your Skills with Line Graphs
Bar versus Line Graphs
Constructing Bar Graphs
Evaluating Your Skills with Bar Graphs
References
Searching the Web
Investigation 5.2 Brand and Absorption
Practice
Chapter 6 Writing Simple ReportsSimple Reports
Title
Introduction
Experimental Design Diagram
Procedure
Results
Conclusion
Investigation 6.1 Super Fizzers
Evaluating Your Report
Searching the Web
Chapter 7 Using Library and Internet Resources
Stage 1: Establish an Interest
Stage 2: Narrow the Topic
Stage 3: Clarify Variables
Stage 4: Refine the Procedures
Stage 5: Interpret the Unexpected
Locating Online Information
References
Searching the Web
Practice
Chapter 8 Analyzing Experimental Data
Reviewing Basic Concepts
Activity 8.1 Analyzing Experimental Data
Types of Data
Describing Data
Data Tables for Descriptive Statistics
Data Table for Plant Height
Data Table for Plant Health
Data Table for Leaf Quality
Making Decisions about Descriptive Statistics and Graphs
References
Searching the Web
Investigation 8.1 A Sudsy Experience
Practice
Chapter 9 Communicating Descriptive Statistics
Writing about Quantitative Data
Writing about Qualitative Data
Nominal Data
Ordinal Data
Writing a Conclusion
Evaluating Your Paragraphs of Results and Conclusion
Searching the Web
Investigation 9.1 Circles, Bulges, and Feathers
Practice
Chapter 10 Displaying Dispersion/Variation in DataOverview of Statistical and Graphical Presentations
Stem-and-Leaf Plots
Boxplots (Box and Whisker Diagrams)
Standard Deviation and Variance
Calculating Dispersion/Variation in Experimental Data
Stem-and-Leaf Plots
Investigation 10.1 Paper Worms
Boxplots (Box and Whisker Diagrams)
Standard Deviation and Variance
Making Decisions about Dispersion/Variation in Data
References
Searching the Web
Investigation 10.2 Watery Statistics
Practice
Chapter 11 Determining Statistical SignificancePopulations and Samples
Practice Set 1
Hypothesis Testing
The t Test
Practice Set 2
Two Treatment Groups
Three Treatment Groups
Practice Set 3
Investigation 11.1 Magnetic Time
Chi-Square
Goodness of Fit
Multiple Comparisons
Evaluating Your Skills
References
Searching the Web
Practice Set 4
Investigation 11.2 Containing the Curdles
Chapter 12 Designing Complex ExperimentsRepeated Measures over Time
Repeated Treatments over Subjects
Two Independent Variables
Three Independent Variables
Correlation
References
Searching the Web
Investigation 12.1 Holding the Heat
Investigation 12.2 Practice Makes Perfect
Investigation 12.3 Fruit Appeal
Investigation 12.4 Collapsing Bridges
Practice
Chapter 13 Preparing Formal Papers
Review of the Literature
Formal Research Papers
Student Research Paper
Using Technology: Surfing the Web for Carnivorous Plants
Evaluating Your Skills
References
Searching the Web
Chapter 14 Presenting Scientific Research
Science Fair Displays
Poster Displays
Oral Presentations
Using Technology: Presentation Graphics Programs
Searching the Web
Chapter 15 Evaluating Your Knowledge of Experimental Design and Data AnalysisUse the Following Scenario to Answer Questions 22-23
Answers to Chapter 15 Self-Test of Your Knowledge of Experimental Design and Data Analysis
Appendix A: Using Technology
Glossary
Index
