SCIENTIFIC METHOD The scientific method is a series of steps and a thought process used to solve problems. Scientific Method is used every day by all sorts of people…not just scientists! There are 6 steps to completion of the scientific method.

Step #1. 1. Purpose - What do you want to learn?? What is the problem? This may begin with asking a question. Ex: What is the disease-causing agent?

Step #2. 2. Research/Collecting Data. Observing Measuring Sampling Organizing data

Step #3. 3. Hypothesis An educated guess CAN BE TESTED!!! Can be supported or not supported….never true or false. Written in the “if-then” form.

Examples of “If-then” form If detergents were to be tested, then ERA would clean the best. If mice are subjected to microwaves, then they will have a shorter life span. If the virus were the true disease-causing agent, then introducing the virus into healthy tissue would cause cell death.

Step #4. 4. Experiment Process of testing hypothesis by gathering data under controlled conditions

Parts of an experiment Variables = things that change Independent variable - manipulated by the experimenter. Example…amount of dog food Dependent variable-it is dependent on the independent variable. It RESPONDS to the experiment. Example…weight of dog

Parts of experiment continued… Control - What you compare to….a standard. Constant - Something that never changes. Variables should be the only thing that is different…everything else should be held constant! Theory = suggested EXPLANATION.

Step #5. 5. Analysis Collecting and organizing data from the experiment Graphs Models

Step #6 6. Conclusion Stating whether the hypothesis was supported or not supported Sum up the experiment

There are rules & guidelines to graphing. You must always title your graph. You must always label the x & y axis including the measurements! The independent variable always goes on the x-axis. The dependent variable always goes on the y-axis. You must always mark the #’s in equal step intervals. Make straight/accurate lines. Be neat!

GOOD BAD

We will be making LINE graphs We will be making LINE graphs. You will plot the points and then connect them with a straight line.

LINE graph = find the relationship between two variables. BAR = show a # PIE = show % When making a graph, make sure you use all available space and make the line take up the size of the graph. Go to the following link for some exapmles: http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/courses/ci330ms/youtsey/lineinfo.html