What is Science? - Ideas developed by scientists and the methods used to gain information about the idea. – A process of making observations and asking questions about those observations. – Scientists gain knowledge through study and investigation and to make conclusions from observations.

Scientific Method - Series of steps used to answer questions and solve problems 6 STEPS – Question or Purpose- Identify the problem – Research- Gather information – Hypothesis- an educated guess or prediction – Experiment- test your hypothesis – Analysis- Observe, Record Observations (Data) – Conclusion- based on your analysis

Scientific Method Cont. Scientific investigations do not always proceed from one step of the scientific method to the next. Sometimes steps are skipped and sometimes they are repeated.

Variables -a factor; item in an experiment which when changed causes the results of the experiment to change Independent variable (factor that changes) - factor that is purposefully changed by the experimenter Dependent variable (dependent depends on the independent) - factor that responds, therefore it is what is measured Controlled variable - constant; factor(s) that are kept the same throughout the experiment

Experimental Design Testing Groups Experimental Group the test group where all conditions, except the independent variable, are kept the same Control Group the test group that is used as a standard for comparison; doesn’t include the independent variable