Scientific Method

What is the scientific method? It is a process that is used to find answers to questions about the world around us.

Is there only one “scientific method”? No!! Some versions have more steps, while others may have only a few.

Is there only one “scientific method”? They all begin with the identification of a problem or a question to be answered based on observations of the world around us and provide an organized method for conducting and analyzing an experiment

STEPS #1 PROBLEM O Identify the Problem O What do you want to know or explain? O Use observations you have made to write a question that addresses the problem or topic you want to investigate

STEP #2 HYPOTHESIS O Form a Hypothesis O What do you think will happen? O Predict the answer to your question or the outcome of the experiment.

Hypothesis It is an educated guess based on observations and your knowledge of the topic If …then ….statements!

STEP #3 EXPERIMENT O Create an Experiment O How will you test your hypothesis? Develop a procedure for a reliable experiment and address safety rules. O Step by step

STEP #4 PERFORM EXPERIMENT O Perform an Experiment O Follow the steps in your procedure to perform your experiment. O Record data and observations!

STEP #5 Data O Analyze the Data O Is the data reliable? O Does your data and observations from the experiment support your hypothesis?

Data O Information gathered in the experiment O Charts, Graphs, and Tables are the easiest data collection methods.

STEP #6 Experiment O If your data is flawed or inaccurate… O Modify the Experiment O Rewrite your procedure to address the flaws in the original experiment

STEP #7 Results O Communicate the Results O Write a conclusion that summarizes the important parts of your experiment and the results

Hypothesis O Educated Guess O “If (independent)…then (dependent variable)..”

Variables O variable is an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category you are trying to measure. O There are two types of variables-independent and dependent

Independent Variable O Stand alone O Is not changed by other variables Examples O Age O Height O Genes O DNA

Dependent Variable O Depends on other factors O Examples TEST SCORES could change based on many factors. O Independent variable) causes a change in (Dependent Variable) and it isn't possible that (Dependent Variable) could cause a change in (Independent Variable).

Examples O For example: O ( Time Spent Studying) causes a change in (Test Score) and it isn't possible that (Test Score) could cause a change in (Time Spent Studying). O We see that "Time Spent Studying" must be the independent variable and "Test Score" must be the dependent variable because the sentence doesn't make sense the other way around.