1. Intro unit: The Scientific Method, Data Collection, & Graphing
Prior to conducting an experiment you should do research about the topic so that you can develop a good hypothesis.
A hypothesis is an educated guess about what you think will happen.
Any good experiment has a control group to compare your experimental results to.

2. Steps in the Problem Solving Method:
State the Problem: {what are you trying to find out?}
Research: {find information to assist in developing a hypothesis}
State the Hypothesis
{What do you think will happen? Why?}
Test the Hypothesis {list materials & directions to use those materials. Conduct the experiment}
Record & Analyze Data {observations and collection of
quantitative, or qualitative data; in data tables and/or graphs}
Draw Conclusions
{multiple sentences: What did you learn, confirm, etc.
Identify factors affecting the results, major concepts,
questions the experiment generated, etc.}

3. Controlled/Constant Variables – variables kept the same so as to not affect the results
ex: same plants, same soil, same temp. same light, etc.
Independent (Manipulated) Variable – variable changed on purpose (it’s the factor being tested)
ex. plant 1= 100ml H20, plant 2=50ml H2O, plant 3=10ml H2O
Dependent (Responding) Variable – the results. It’s what happens as a result of the manipulated variable
ex. plant 1 grew 4 inches, plant 2 grew 2 inches, plant 3 died
[You can never have more than 1 independent variable, or you would not know which variable caused the results.]

4. Data: Information gathered through observation.
Qualitative data uses the senses
ex. table is smooth, black, hard, rectangle, etc.
Quantitative data uses measurements
ex. table top is 100 cm long and 30 cm wide

5. Graphs & Tables – used to collect and analyze data (a picture of the results). Independent variable goes on the X-axis. Dependent variable goes on the Y-axis. Always give a graph a descriptive title, and completely and accurately label the X & Y axis.
Line graph shows
change over time.
Bar graph compares amounts

6. Circle graph (pie chart) shows the parts compared to the whole.