Scientific Method What is the Scientific Method? The Scientific Method: 6 steps to experimentation. The Scientific Method: procedures involving observation and identification of a problem, formulation and testing of a hypothesis, data collection through experimentation and analysis and communication of results. (Was the hypothesis accepted or rejected?) What is the Scientific Method?

Step 1 - Ask question Ask a question/purpose Purpose: pick a topic that interests you. Question: Put your topic into a question that will be answered by research. This is also called “writing a problem”.

Step 2 - Research Research How do I write a problem? What do you already know about the topic? Do you need to find more info? Should be written in the form of a question. Open-ended (cannot answer with a yes or no) Can be based on research, the results of a previous experiment, or observations of the world around you. Research How do I write a problem?

Step 2 - Research Observations Qualitative – Using your senses to make an appropriate description of an object. Qualitative observations are general in nature. Quantitative – Observations involving the measurement of quantity or an amount. Specific in nature.

Step 3 – Form a Hypothesis Form a hypotheses After you’ve done your research, observations, and you’ve written your problem (question), write your hypothesis. A hypothesis is an idea than can and must be tested. A hypothesis does NOT have to be right.

Step 3 continued Form a hypothesis Must be written in if… then… format Where “if” is the IV or cause and “then” is the effect (response) If I study more, then I will earn better grades.

Step 3 continued Variables Independent Variable – the manipulated (changed) variable in an experiment that determined the effect on something else. (cause) Dependent Variable – Measured or observed variable(s) in experiments in which changes are always in response to the independent variable. (effect) Control Variable – the variable that remains the same (constant) in an experiment Variables

Step 4 - Experiment Experiment An actual experiment that you will conduct. Contain step-by-step procedures. Gather info and test hypothesis

Step 4 continued Written in short, easy to follow steps Have steps that begin with verbs. Be clear and detailed enough so someone can reproduce your study. (like a recipe!) Develop a procedure

Step 5 - Analysis Analysis This is the data that you have collected. You may display it in a graph, table, picture, or combo of many.

Step 6 - Conclusion Conclusion Evaluate your data and communicate results Don’t worry about negative or unexpected results Answer the original question. What would you do differently? Finally, was hypothesis accepted or rejected? If not, why? Conclusion