1. Scientific Method

2. Steps in the Scientific Method
Identify a Problem
1) Make an observation about the Problem
2) Form a Hypothesis about the Problem (If…,then…)
3) Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis
4) Data Collection
5) Form a Conclusion
6) Retest

3. Observations Gathered through your senses
A scientist notices something in their natural world

4. Observations
What was an example of an observation made during our Come Fly With Me Lab?

5. Hypothesis A suggested solution or educated guess to the problem.
Must be testable
Written as an If…,then… statement
Predicts an outcome

6. Hypothesis
What was example of a hypothesis during our Come Fly With Me Lab?

7. A procedure to test the hypothesis.
Experiment
A procedure to test the hypothesis.

8. Experiment Variable – factor in the experiment that is being tested
A good or “valid” experiment will only have ONE variable!

9. Scientific Experiments Follow Rules
An experimenter changes one factor and observes or measures what happens.

10. The Controls
The experimenter makes a special effort to keep other factors constant so that they will not effect the outcome.
Those factors are called controls.

11. What is the Purpose of a Control?
Controls are NOT being tested
Controls are used for COMPARISON

12. Other Variables
The factor that is changed is known as the independent variable.
The factor that is measured or observed is called the dependent variable.

13. Example of Controls & Variables
List the controls and variables for the Come Fly With Me Lab.

14. One more thing… it is best to make several trials with each independent variable.

15. Data Results of the experiment may be either: Quantitative (numbers)
Qualitative (colors, emotions, etc.)

16. Data
Must be organized
Examples:
charts, tables, or graphs

17. Conclusion
The answer to the hypothesis based on the data obtained from the experiment

18. In order to verify the results, experiments must be retested.

19. Solving a Problem Identify a Problem
1) Make an observation about the Problem
2) Form a Hypothesis about the Problem (If…,then…)
3) Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis
4) Data Collection
5) Form a Conclusion
6) Retest