Group 4 Reflection

1. What was your hypothesis?
Our question was: "How does the soil and the water from two sections in an estuary affect the organisms living in those sections?" We thought that the salinity and pH of both the soil and the water would affect the organisms in the each area, so we tested both from five different areas, in each section (the ocean and the creek).
2. Explain your experiences in gaining and testing evidence.
Any issues, with samples or equipment?
It was sometimes difficult and somtimes it was easy to get samples. It was more difficult the deeper in the water we had to go, especially because we didn't really plan for how cold the water would be. We also didn't expect to have to go as deep into the wate as we had to, in order to get the samples we needed. There wasn't really any problem with the equipment. Those in the group who were trained to use the labquest, did so, and using the core probe was not difficult nor complicated, so there weren't any real issues with equipment.
3. How was working in a group? What went well? What didn't?
Working in a group mostly went well. While we were at the estuary, we helped each other a lot. One of us would go to get samples while another tested. My ankle was really sore, and one of my group members helped me balance on the slippery mud, while I tried to get a sample from deeper in the water. Each person in our group contributed to the experiemnet in the field. However, our group sort of seems to be having problems coming together to meet. One person does not want to seem to cooperate by sacrificing some time or an activity, that others of us are, in order to meet. As a result of this, we will have to get more done in less time, as a group, and it seems like we will have to have some meetings where not everyone is present.
4. How do you know that you gained scientific knowledge? Was your data good?
I know that we gained scientific knowledge through Empiricism, because I saw the color differences in the soil from just one section we tested, so I know that the these different samples will yield results that may answer our question. I know through Knowledge by Authority that the instruments were accurate because Ms. Gallo, explained that they were. Our group will research our results and compare them to the measurements and other resluts posted by reliable sources (such as universities and scienetifi communties). I am not sure if our data is "good" yet, as our group has not analyzed it yet.