Question

• be familiar with the steps of the scientific method

◦ make an observation
◦ state a question
◦ form a hypothesis
◦ test the hypothesis
◦ draw a conclusion
◦ form a theory

• be familiar with the following vocabulary terms:

◦ inference: a logical interpretation on what a scientist already knows
◦ observation: the act of noticing & describing events or processes
◦ hypothesis: a tentative scientific explanation
◦ control group: keeps conditions constant so that they can be used for comparison
◦ manipulated variable: the variable that you expect to cause a change in some way; aka the independent variable; (hint: what the scientist is responding for)
◦ responding variable: what the scientist observes or measures; aka the dependent variable; (hint: how the experiment changes)
◦ qualitative data: data that gives a description of of the results; ex/the beaker got hot
◦ quantitative data: data that are numbers; ex/ 32°f
◦ theory: an idea that has been thoroughly tested and is supported by a great deal of evidence

• be able to analyze a case study and pick out the claim, evidence and reasoning.

◦ you try:
■ for many years, scientists believed in the “miasma theory” which suggested that many diseases, such as cholera and the black death, were caused by pollution or bad air. hospitals would air rooms out daily by opening windows to remove any bad air that might infect patients. when microscopes were invented, scientists could view very tiny organisms that lived in water and on surfaces all around them. many scientists believed it was these “germs” that spread disease and not the air. robert koch was able to isolate microorganisms from sheep that had contracted anthrax. he grew these bacteria and then injected them in mice. the mice became sick with anthrax.

Explanation:

Since the problem (the "You Try" case study) likely asks to analyze claim, evidence, and reasoning (though the specific question isn't fully stated, we'll assume that's the task):

• Claim: Initially, the Miasma Theory claimed diseases like cholera and black death were caused by bad air. Later, the claim shifted to germs (microorganisms) causing disease.
• Evidence for Miasma Theory: Hospitals aired rooms to remove "bad air" to prevent infection (action based on the theory).
• Evidence for Germ Theory: Microscopes revealed tiny organisms; Robert Koch isolated microorganisms from anthrax - infected sheep, grew them, and injected into mice, which then got anthrax (experimental evidence supporting germs as disease - causing).
• Reasoning: For Miasma Theory, the reasoning was that bad air was the cause (so airing rooms would help). For Germ Theory, the reasoning was that since isolating and introducing the microorganisms led to disease in mice, these germs were the cause of anthrax (and likely other diseases), replacing the Miasma Theory.

Answer:

• Claim (Initial): Diseases (e.g., cholera, black death) are caused by bad air (Miasma Theory).
• Claim (Later): Diseases are caused by germs (microorganisms).
• Evidence for Miasma Theory: Hospitals aired rooms daily to remove bad air to prevent patient infection.
• Evidence for Germ Theory: Microscopes showed tiny organisms; Robert Koch isolated microorganisms from anthrax - infected sheep, grew them, and injected into mice (mice got anthrax).
• Reasoning (Miasma): Bad air causes disease, so removing it prevents infection.
• Reasoning (Germ): Since introducing isolated microorganisms caused disease in mice, germs cause disease.