1. Designing an Experiment

2. Flow Chart of Scientific Method- brainpop

3. What is an experiment?
It is an organized plan to test a hypothesis.
An experiment follows a definite plan.
It documents data
gathered.
It attempts to answer a question(s).

4. Components of an Experiment
1. The Question, Purpose, or
Reason for the experiment
2. Research – find background info
to help with the experiment.
3. The HYPOTHESIS

5. Components of an Experiment
4. The Experimental Phase
Materials
Procedures

6. Components of an Experiment
5. Results
6. Conclusions

7. I. Posing a QUESTION 1. Design the experiment to
solve the question or problem.
2. Narrow down the question —
be specific about what you
want to find out.
3. Investigate one “?” at a time.

8. III. Develop a HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis is based on observations
and previous knowledge or experience
1. It MUST be testable.
2. It is a POSSIBLE ANSWER to
your question.
3. A hypothesis takes the form of
an If… then… Statement.

9. Variables A variable is any factor that can change in an experiment.
Variables must be identified in order to test the hypothesis.

10. Identifying the Variables
Types of variables:
1. Manipulated Variable
a. Also known as the independent variable
b. The factor you will be purposely.
changing and testing.
c. is shown on the
horizontal axis of
a graph.

11. Identifying the Variables
2. Responding Variable
a. also known as dependent
variable
b. The variable you predict will
change as a result of the
manipulated variable.
c. Is shown on the vertical axis of
a graph

12. If… then… statements If (manipulated or independent variable) ,
then (dependent variable).
A hypothesis is written as an If… then… statement.
These statements must be written in correct grammatical form.

13. IV. The Experiment
Materials – make a list of all the materials needed to conduct your experiment.

14. III. The Experiment
Procedures (How to do the experiment)

15. The Procedures Includes a brief description of the experiment.
Identifies a plan to collect data and the variables
Listed in numbered step-by-step description of how to conduct
the experiment.

16. (Procedures – cont’d) Prepare a data table
Record - How the manipulated variable effects the responding variable

17. A “Controlled” Experiment
1. All conditions (variables) are kept the same except for the manipulated variable.
2. A “control” is used as a comparison in the experiment.
(A standard against which
to measure results.)

18. V. Gathering & Interpreting Data
Gather your data during the experiment in a data table and log.

19. V. Gathering & Interpreting Data
Make a graph from the data table

20. V. Gathering & Interpreting Data
Explain the data:
Look for comparisons, trends, patterns
Make inferences from data and compare them with what you already know
Ask & answer: how, what, why.

21. VI. Conclusion - Your reflections on what happened in the experiment.
Compare data and graph with your hypothesis and decide whether the
hypothesis is
true or false.

22. VI. Conclusion
Reflect upon & discuss your how, what, why
answers.

23. VI. Conclusion
Raise new questions and redesign a new experiment.

24. VI. Conclusion
Make a statements that summarize what “you” have learned from the experiment.

25. Science is…