1. The SCIENTIFIC METHOD

2. Further Scientific Inquiry Identify Variables + Controls
SET UP
The SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Site Sources
Further Scientific Inquiry
Communicate Results
Draw Conclusions
Analyze Results
Test Hypothesis
Form Hypothesis
Identify Variables + Controls
Observe + Question 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

3. OBSERVE + QUESTION
OBSERVATION – the act of using one or more of your senses to gather information.
QUALITATIVE
uses senses
descriptive
not measureable
based on qualities
“smells like lemon”
QUANTITATIVE
collected with tools – rulers, balances, thermometers
measureable
recorded as numbers
based on quantities
“rock is 45g”

4. OBSERVE + QUESTION
INFERENCE – a logical explanation of an observation that is drawn from prior knowledge or experience.
Not observed directly
“The sidewalk must be wet because it rained.”

5. IDENTIFY VARIABLES + CONTROLS
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE – the factor you want to test
changed by the investigator to observe how it affects a dependent variable
also called “manipulated variable”
I CHANGE!

6. IDENTIFY VARIABLES + CONTROLS
DEPENDENT VARIABLE – the factor you observe or measure during an experiment
also called “responding variable”
MEASURED!

7. IDENTIFY VARIABLES + CONTROLS
CONTROLS – the factors that remain unchanged in an experiment
ensures any changes are a result of independent variable
also called “constants”
FAIR
EQUAL
FAIR
EQUAL
SAME!

8. FORM HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS – a possible explanation for an observation that can be easily tested by scientific investigations
can be easily written in “if”, “then” format which includes the independent (if) variable and dependent (then) variable.
“If I increase the amount of water added to the tomato plants, then they will grow taller.”

9. TEST HYPOTHESIS Gather research and background information
Design experiment
Write procedure in step-by-step, numbered list
Identify and collect materials
Perform experiment
Collect data and record observations

10. ANALYZE RESULTS - GRAPH RESULTS - CLASSIFY INFORMATION
Line Graphs – track changes over time for one or more group
Pie Chart – compare parts of a whole
Bar Graphs – compare things between different groups or track changes over time
- CLASSIFY INFORMATION
- MAKE CALCULATIONS

11. DRAW CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSION – a summary of the information gained from testing a hypothesis.
Restate the overall purpose of the experiment.
Summarize your findings – put your data in words, describe your graph results.
State if your hypothesis was proven true, proven wrong, or if results were inconclusive.
Describe what changes could be
made to improve the experiment.

12. COMMUNICATE RESULTS
Scientists communicate results of investigations to inform other scientists about their research and conclusions of their research.
Present results to peer – science fair
Write science journal articles
Exchange information on the internet

13. FURTHER SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
IF HYPOTHESIS IS SUPPORTED… scientists will retest the predictions several times to make sure the conclusions are the same.
IF HYPOTHESIS IS SUPPORTED… scientists will retest the predictions several times to make sure the conclusions are the same.
IF HYPOTHESIS IS NOT SUPPORTED… new information gained can be used to revise hypothesis and retest.
IF HYPOTHESIS IS NOT SUPPORTED… new information gained can be used to revise hypothesis and retest.

14. SITE SOURCES BIBLIOGRAPHY BUILDER - www.easybib.com
Give credit to the original author of any information collected for your project from books, magazines, and/or internet.
BIBLIOGRAPHY BUILDER