The Scientific Method The Purpose/Question Observation/Research Hypothesis Experiment Analysis Conclusion

Scientific Inquiry The many ways in which a scientist explores problems and seeks to answer questions.

What is the Scientific Method? It is a series of steps that are used to solve a scientific question.

1st Step: The Purpose/Question Develop the problem or question that can be solved using an experiment. For Example: Which brand of battery lasts the longest? Can this questions be tested? YES!

2nd Step: Observation/Research Using your senses to identify something. Senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. How would you use one of your senses in an experiment?

3rd Step: The Hypothesis An educated guess or prediction as to the outcome of an experiment. A good hypothesis has supporting reason.

Independent Variable (Manipulated) Is the variable that “I” the scientist changes on purpose. The independent variable is the ONLY thing you change ON PURPOSE!

Dependent Variable (Responding) Results from a change in the value of the independent variable. How ever you change the independent variable will always affect the dependent variable! The dependent variable is measurable.

How to Write a Hypothesis. Write it as an IF THEN statement. IF _____independent variable___ THEN ____dependent variable___.

4th Step: The Experiment Is an organized series of steps used to test the hypothesis.

Data Is the recorded (written) information that you observed. There are two types of Data…

Qualitative Data Is data that tells about the QUALITY of something. Can’t be measured using numbers. Examples: color, texture, odor and shape.

Quantitative Data Is the data that is measured in NUMBERS (quantities). Examples: 2.5 meters and 21˚C .

The Control and Constants Control-the standard of comparison in an experiment. Compare your results to a known factor. Constant-factors that stays the same in an experiment.

Repeated Trials How many times you actually complete the whole experiment. The more trials you complete the more valid (accurate) your experiment will be!

5th Step: Analysis Interpret (read) recorded data (results) from your experiment. Interpret everything that was included in the whole experiment…graphs, charts, pictures etc.

6th Step: The Conclusion! Scientists review the data and decide if it supports the hypothesis. Include any improvements that should be made to the experiment.

What is an Inference? To form a conclusion from your observation and prior knowledge. Lets break it down… Take what you already know (prior knowledge) and what you observed through your senses to reach an ending result (conclusion).

brainpop scientific method Quiz Time! brainpop scientific method