1. What is a scientific method?
Introductory Chapter
What is a scientific method?

2. 6 steps of scientific method:
Problem
Hypothesis
Experiment
Data
Conclusion
Writing a report

3. 1. Problem- Identifying a problem and doing research
Is a question(?) about phenomena. The question can be about anything. For example: How do plants support themselves? How do mosquitoes transmit diseases?
-researching for answers by reading articles, books, scientific journals, online etc.

4. 2. Hypothesis -Forming a hypothesis
Hypothesis: is the answer to a question. It’s a guess or prediction. The hypothesis must be based on research, observations, readings etc. AND, the hypothesis must be testable. For example: Question: Why plants need water? Answer (Hypothesis): Water help plants perform a photosynthesis process.

5. 3. Experiment -Designing and carrying out an experiment
Scientists need to plan how to do their experiment and identify the variables: how much water? how much sun? how much food? etc. Variable: anything that can affect the outcome of an experiment

6. Experiment con’t.
Controlling the experiment: When doing an experiment, scientists need to keep all the variables constant.
Constant: something that does not change; is always stable
Controlled experiment: experiment in which all the condition except one are kept constant

7. 2. Hypothesis -Forming a hypothesis (con’t.)
2 groups of experiments:
Control group
Experimental group
Dependent variable
Independent variable

8. 2. Hypothesis -Forming a hypothesis (con’t.)
2 variables:
Independent variable (manipulated variable )- is a change in the experiment
Dependent variable (responding variable)- is the response to the change in the experiment

9. 2. Hypothesis -Forming a hypothesis (con’t.)
* Independent variable (manipulated variable): the variable that is changed on the purpose (is a change).
* Dependent variable (responding variable): the variable that is observed and that changes in response to the manipulated variable (is a result).

10. 4. Data- Recording and analyzing data
Dealing with data: it’s very important to take accurate data (time, amount, date, units etc). It’s important to find a pattern in the data. To see the pattern, it’s easier to transfer data to tables, charts, graphs.

11. 5. Conclusion -making a conclusion
Making a conclusion: Conclusion is a statement that summarizes your data. In the conclusion, scientists need to decide if the hypothesis was supported or refuted by the collected data. Conclusions often lead to new questions, and new experiments.

12. 6. Writing a report (lab report)
Communicating results: Scientists can make their records (data) into a lab report as a written communication.

13. Theory
If the hypothesis is tested again and again by many scientists, it’s called a theory.

14. 6 steps of scientific method:
Problem (?)
Hypothesis (answer to ?; guess or prediction)
Experiment (lab; independent vs. dependent variable)
Data (numbers, graph)
Conclusion (my hypothesis was right or wrong)
Writing a report

15. A lab report has: Title Materials Purpose
Background information (it depends on the lab)
Hypothesis (it depends on the lab)
Procedure
Data
Conclusion