1. The Scientific Method

2. What is the Scientific Method?
The Scientific Method is a series of steps used not only by scientists but by everyday people to solve any kind of problem at hand.

3. What are the steps of the Scientific Method?
1) Question (define the problem) 2) Formulate a hypothesis 3) State your controlled variable 4) State your dependent and independent variables 5) Carry out your experiment 6) Collect and record data 7) Form a conclusion

4. Define the Problem
The problem is not really a problem. It is what the scientists, or everyday person, is trying to find an answer to. An example of this would be, “Do plants need light to grow?”
It is always stated in the form of a question.

5. Formulate a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a possible answer or explanation to the question (problem). This is based on observations, known facts and scientific laws.
It is usually stated in an “if….then….” format.
Ex. If I deprive the plant of light, then it will not grow.

6. Design an Experiment
In order to support or reject the hypothesis, an experiment is designed. Scientists always carry out experiments in duplicate, or double, where all factors in each set up are identical, except for one, which is what is being tested.
This is called a controlled experiment.

7. Dependent and Independent Variables
In it’s simplest form, the independent variable is something in the experiment that is going to be changed (experimenter controls).
The dependent variable is the way you are going to measure how the independent variable affects the experiment.

8. Carry out your experiment
This is where you get to have some fun! You conduct the experiment in order to formulate an answer to your question; to support or reject (refute) your hypothesis.

9. Collect and Record Data
Information, often in the form of some kind of measurement, and the observations made throughout the experiment are called data.

10. Conclusion
Now that you have conducted your experiment, observe the results, collect the data, and form a conclusion.

11. Accountability
Any good experiment should be repeatable with the same results being obtained. This supports the validity of the data and conclusions of the experiment.

12. HAPPY PROBLEM SOLVING!!