1. SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS

2. Scientific Method
scientific method - the steps a scientist follows to answer a question or solve a problem including…
Make Observations & Ask a Question
Conduct Research
Form a Hypothesis
Test a Hypothesis/Conduct an Experiment
Analyze Results
Draw a Conclusion

3. 1. Make Observations & Ask a Question
Scientific Method
1. Make Observations & Ask a Question
observation – any use of the senses to gather information
inference - conclusions or deductions based on observations and prior knowledge
Process of drawing a conclusion from given evidence

4. Quantitative (quantity) Qualitative (quality)
2 Types of Observations
Quantitative (quantity)
Deals with numbers
Can be measured
Length, height, area, volume, weight, speed, time, temperature, humidity, sound levels, cost, etc.
Qualitative (quality)
Deals with descriptions
Can be observed but not measured
Colors, textures, smells, tastes, appearance, beauty, etc.
data - facts, figures, and other evidence gathered though observation

5. Scientific Method 1. Ask a Question 2. Conduct Research
Questions help you narrow and focus investigation and identify what you are trying to find out.
There are 3 ways to ask a question:
What factors cause…
What is the relationship between…
What is the effect of…
Becoming knowledgeable about the topic and what others have done regarding the question at hand is extremely important.

6. Scientific Method 3. Form a Hypothesis 4. Test a Hypothesis
hypothesis - possible explanation or answer to a question
If/then statements
The “IF” part is doing what
The “THEN” part is what will happen
Ex: “If I study 10 minutes every night, then I will get an A+ in Science class”
must be testable
To test a hypothesis is to conduct an experiment

7. Testing a Hypothesis
controlled experiment - experiment where all factors but one are kept constant - only ONE thing tested at a time 
factors that are changed in an experiment are variables
those that are not changed are constants/controls

8. Two Groups in a Controlled Experiment
Experimental Group
Control Group
not changed
used for comparison
Ex. Student not studying
changed
used to test something
Ex. Student studying 10 minutes every night

9. Two Groups in a Controlled Experiment

10. Which Group Do You Want to Be In?
Control Group Experimental Group

11. Two Variables in a Controlled Experiment
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
factor that is changed
the thing being tested
Ex. time spent studying
factor that changes as a result of the manipulated variable
it DEPENDS of the independent variable
factor that is measured or observed
Ex. grade in Science

12. Relationship Between the Two Variables
independent causes dependent
if independent … then dependent
dependent depends on the independent
dependent is caused by the independent

13. Remembering the Two Variables

14. Graphing Scientific Variables

15. Scientific Method 5. Analyze Results 6. Draw a Conclusion
In order to understand data collected it must be analyzed to determine if it supports the hypothesis.
3 types of conclusions:
Supports the hypothesis
Does not support the hypothesis
Need more information
Regardless of the outcome you must explain