1. What is SCIENCE? A way to answer questions & solve problems
How we understand the world around us
A way or process used to investigate what is happening around you
It provides possible b

2. The scientific method/ Experimental Design
A way to solve a problem

3. What’s the problem anyway?
Identify what
you want to investigate

4. Form a Hypothesis
What do you
think your
experiment
will show

5. HYPOTHESIS A statement that can be tested by conducting an experiment
Prior knowledge, new information, observations can be used to form a hypothesis
IF…THEN…BECAUSE

6. Research the problem
Learn more about your subject

7. Design an experiment to test your hypothesis
Write step by step procedures describing how to test your hypothesis
Gather all materials you will need

8. Record your data Data Tables
A way to record results and observations accurately
Have a descriptive title
Divided into columns & rows

9. Title Describing the Data
Trial
Variable 1
Variable 2
Variable 3 1 2 3 4 5
Average

10. Analyzing the data Reduce the data Graph the data
Do something to make the amount of data smaller
Graph the data
Lets us see trends, patterns, relationships, comparisons
Bar graphs
Let us compare data
Line graphs
Lets us see trends or changes

11. State a conclusion
Was your
hypothesis
supported?

12. Conclusions How we sum up the investigation?
Does the data support the hypothesis?
If it does – we accept the hypothesis
If it does not – we reject the hypothesis
Always back up what you say with data
Evidence
Discuss issues or problems with the investigation
Discuss the importance or relevance of the investigation

13. How do scientists COMMUNICATE the results of their work?
Finding out something new doesn’t do anyone any good unless the new knowledge is shared
Reported in scientific journals
Science journals
Presentations to other scientists

14. What are the three types of variables?
Independent variables
Dependent variables
Controlled variables
Also called constants

15. Independent variables are…
What is being tested
What is purposely changed by you
The difference between the groups
The ‘cause’ of a change

16. Dependent variables are…
What is observed
What is measured
The data
The ‘effect’ caused by the independent variable
This changes as a result of you changing the independent variable

17. Controlled variables are…
Things that could change, but don’t
Kept constant by the scientist
Allow for a fair test

18. For example…
How does the temperature of ocean water affect the speed of a hurricane?
Independent variable
Temperature of ocean water
Dependent variable
Speed of a hurricane