1. The Scientific Method

2. The Scientific Method The scientific method is the only scientific
way accepted to back up a theory or
idea. This is the method on which all
research projects should be based. *The
Scientific Method is used by researchers
to support or disprove a theory.

3. The Scientific Method The Scientific Method involves these steps:
Observation
Question
Hypothesis
Experiment
Interpreting Data
Drawing Conclusions

4. The Scientific Method Observation- You observe something
in the material world, using your senses
or machines which are basically
extensions of those senses.
AH—Look at this!

5. The Scientific Method Question- You ask a question
about what you observe.
State the problem or question.
“Is a ball’s bounce affected by
the height from which it is
Dropped?”

6. The Scientific Method *Hypothesis- You predict what
you think the answer to
your question might be. A
Worded hypothesis should take
the form of If… then.. Statement.
“If I drop the ball from a higher
height then the ball will bounce
Higher.”

7. The Scientific Method
*Experiment - You figure out a way to test whether
hypothesis is correct. The outcome must be
measureable. (quantifiable)

8. Scientific Method Design the experiment
Controlled Experiment- Involves performing at least two tests that are identical in every aspect except for one factor called the Independent variable.
Should use two groups:
*Control Group: A group in a scientific experiment where the factor being tested is not applied so that it may serve as a standard for comparison against another group where the factor is applied.
Experimental Group: all conditions kept same except single condition being tested “Variable”

9. Design the Experiment Only one condition is changed at a time!
*Independent variable: the condition being changed in an experiment. (there can only be one)
*Dependent variable: What is measured in an experiment. (You can have many)
Example: In testing the effects of the bouncing ball, the height at which the ball is dropped is the independent variable and the height the ball bounces is the dependent variable. Everything else should be kept the same!

10. The Scientific Method Interpreting Data- You do the experiment using
the method you came up with and
record the results. You repeat the
experiment to confirm your
results by retesting. **The
Bigger the “sample size”
the more reliable your
Data becomes!

11. The Scientific Method Drawing **Conclusion- You state whether
your prediction was confirmed or not
and try to explain your results. A
hypothesis that has been tested
many times and supported by data
becomes a Theory!

12. Scientific Method- Step by step process that scientist have developed to help them solve problems and test new ideas
Experiment- An activity or group of activities performed to test a hypothesis
Hypothesis- An educated guess
Independent Variables- What you change in an experiment (there can only be one!!)
Dependent Variables- What you measure in an experiment (You can have many)

13. Controlled Variables- All conditions that must remain the same in an experiment (If they change they become an independent variable)
Data- Written or recorded observations made while using the scientific method
Theory- A hypothesis that has been tested many times and is supported by data
Conclusion- Final statement made after an experiment to prove or disprove the hypothesis
Sample Size- Number of experimental results