1. A Process Used by Scientists (and everyone else) to solve a problem
Scientific Method
A Process Used by Scientists (and everyone else) to solve a problem

2. Steps of the Scientific Method
State a problem in the form of a question
Research or gather information about the question
Answer the question (make a hypothesis)
Conduct an experiment
Collect and record data
Analyze the data
Form a conclusion

3. Hypothesis The problem is a question that has been asked
The hypothesis is a proposed solution to that problem, based on prior experience or research; it is an answer that might be true
It must be testable
A prediction is an expected outcome of the test
May or may not be an “if-then” statement

4. Experiment A controlled experiment can be used to test a hypothesis
All conditions must be kept the same (constants) except for the condition you are testing (tested variable)
The tested variable is compared to a control—the group that receives no experimental treatment

5. Dependent vs independent variable
The independent variable is the one the researcher has control over—he can manipulate that variable (the researcher changes it)
The dependent variable the researcher has no control over—it responds to the independent variable (the researcher measures it)

6. Data The observations the researcher collects
Usually this is numbers, values (quantitative) or observations (color, behavior, etc—qualitative)

7. Analysis The data is reviewed and processed
It may mean using mathematical formulas, or making a graph
Graph-independent variable goes on x axis and dependent on the y (dry-mix)

8. Conclusion Answers the original question
May support or not support the hypothesis
Makes a claim (c ), supports it with evidence (e) and tells why that evidence supports the claim (r)

9. Theory
If a hypothesis has been repeatedly tested by many scientists and all of their results support the hypothesis, the hypothesis can be considered a theory
Future evidence may change scientists’ understanding and the theory may have to be rejected or revised

10. Scientific laws
For a theory to become accepted as a scientific law, it must always have the same results and no one has been able to prove that it is wrong