1. Scientific Method Explained Ms. Williams

2. What is science? Goals of Science Deals on with the natural world To collect and organize information Propose explanations that can be tested

3. Science - using evidence to learn about the natural world; a body of knowledge Science begins with observations - often taking data on what you see, hear or smell

4. Types of observations Data - the information gathered from observations Quantitative data - numbers Qualitative data - descriptive

5. Inference - a logical interpretation based on prior knowledge or experience (Ex. You see a window broken and a baseball on the floor. You can infer that a baseball broke the window)

6. Hypothesis - a proposed scientific explanation. This statement is testable and can be confirmed with experimentation or further observation.

7. Prediction - An if-then statement that shows what you expect to see as a result of an experiment or observation. (Ex. If fertilizer makes a plant grow faster, then the seedlings planted with fertilizer will be taller than the ones planted without fertilizer.)

8. Steps of the Scientific Method Ask a question Gather information Form a hypothesis Set up a controlled experiment (test hypothesis) Draw a conclusion Report results

9. Controlled experiment Has a control group and an experimental group Independent variable - the variable that is changed Dependent variable - the variable that is observed (What happens as a result of the independent variable)

10. Notes adapted from www.biologycorner.com www.biologycorner.com