The Scientific Method

`Awareness Test http://youtu.be/Ahg6qcgoay4

What is the Scientific Method? The basic steps that scientists follow in uncovering facts and solving scientific problems ( a plan for solving a problem). An organized plan for gathering, organizing and communicating data Six or Seven Steps

What is the Scientific Method? Make an Observation Ask a Question Complete Background Research Develop a Hypothesis Test your Hypothesis Analyze the Data Conclusion (Report and Share)

Step 1: Observation What can you observe about a piece of paper? Everything starts with an observation What you perceive with your senses What can you observe about a piece of paper?

Step 2: Forming a Question Based on your observations Develop a question or problem that can be solved through experimentation. Usually a “How’ or “Why” question Can you form a question about paper folding?

Step 2: Forming a Question How many times can you fold a piece of paper in half?

Step 3: Complete Background Research Collect knowledge needed to know about the subject of the experiment It will be used to form a hypothesis

Step 4: Develop a Hypothesis Hypothesis = an educated prediction to the answer of the stated problem Based on research and prior knowledge

Step 4: Develop a Hypothesis A proposed answer to your question There is no right or wrong hypothesis Using your question lets develop a hypothesis.

Format of Hypothesis Two accepted formats: “I think…because…” Or “If…then…because…” Both formats include the all important “because statement” used to justify your prediction. If a paper is folded in half, then it can only be folded ________ times because it will become too thick to fold.

Examples of Format of Hypothesis “I think…because…” I think a paper can be folded in half __ times, because after that it is too thick to fold “If…then…because…” If a paper is folded in half, then it can only be folded ________ times because it will become too thick to fold. If a paper is folded in half, then it can only be folded ________ times because it will become too thick to fold.

Step 5: Testing Your Hypothesis This is where you conduct an experiment (a situation specially set up to observe how something happens or to test your hypothesis) Develop a set of repeatable methods The goal is to test your hypothesis by collecting data

Step 5: Testing Your Hypothesis Includes variables - a quantity that is measured or changed during the experiment Term Definition Independent Variable What you are changing in the experiment Dependent The outcome caused by changing the independent variable, a measurement Control Used for comparison in your experiment Constant What stays the same from one experiment to the next

Step 6: Testing Your Hypothesis how many times it actually is folded folding the paper independent variable cause dependent variable effect control comparison constant unchanging Independent - folding the paper Dependent - how many times it actually is folded What are our variables in the paper folding experiment?

Step 6: Collect and Analyze the Data Observations, information and data are collected from the experiment Organize the data and perform calculations Interpret the data you gathered from your experiment

Step 6: Collect and Analyze the Data Construct charts, graphs, averages, percentages, etc. Dependent Variable on the Y-axis How would you graph the paper folding experiment? Independent Variable on the X-axis

Step 7: Conclusion Does your data support your hypothesis? YES NO Revise or make a new hypothesis and test again. You just made a scientific discovery.

Step 6: Conclusion (Sharing) A summary of results, the answer to your question. What were the possible sources of error? Does your data (answer) support your hypothesis? Why or why not? We conclude that our hypothesis was supported or not supported based on our data. What conclusion can you make about paper folding? We conclude that our hypothesis was supported or not supported based on our data.

What about a huge sheet of paper? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRAEBbotuIE&feature=share&list=TLWRT4dnDchcU

Why use the Scientific Method? A logical way to problem solve - in all aspects of life. A way to share information that can be proved or disproved. A way to find new information