The purpose of lab exercises is to provide practice and experience in using the scientific method of inquiry. Practice and repetition will facilitate your insight into the scientific method as a method of problem solving. Your critical thinking skills will be involved, too -- don't check them at the door. This is a "minds-on" course.
The scientific method of approaching problems involves four, basic, sequential steps. They are:
Observation is the simplest and most natural of the four steps. It occurs when we notice some phenomenon and wonder about its probable cause. We are all inclined to make such observations daily, but those of us who are practiced in the scientific method have a tendency to be more aware of these observations and to follow them up with the remaining steps in the scientific method.
Observation is the real basis of science. Science is never satisfied to see something once. Results must be reproducible.
A hypothesis is a tentative explanation of the probable cause for the observed phenomenon. The hypothesis is often described as a guess, but in most cases it is an educated guess. One of our goals for your study is to provide a broad body of knowledge and exposure to the varied areas of Biology so that in your later more specialized work you will have a strong foundation on which to base hypotheses.
This step involves scientifically testing the hypothesis. This testing is designed to validate the hypothesis or to lead to a reformation of the hypothesis on the basis of information gained from the testing. The design of the experimentation is essential to the reliability of the information that is gained. Scientific experiments are constructed such that two comparable groups are established - a control group and an experimental group. The control group is structured without variables and is used as a basis for comparison for the experimental group. The experimental group is structured to parallel the control group with, ideally, only one variable. The variable is aimed toward validation of the hypothesis.
After repeated validation of the hypothesis by experimentation, a hypothesis can assume the status of a theory. A theory is an explanation that is supported by much experimental evidence. After the accumulation of a large body of experimental evidence, theories may achieve the status of natural laws. For example, the theory of gravity is now considered a natural law.
In laboratory, you will apply the scientific method. Work to answer the following questions about each of these experimental laboratories: