1. Scientific Method: The systematic study of a question or problem
Unit 1

2. What is it? A series of steps used to solve a problem
There are many ways to solve a problem
We do it every day!!!!

3. Why Use the Scientific Method?
So things can be repeated
Like a recipe
Proof of what occurred
Facts to back up ideas

4. STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

5. OBSERVATIONS
Observe natural phenomena
Collect data

6. Problem/Question From data ask questions Search for knowledge
Try to understand observations

7. Research Find out what is already known
Gather as much information as possible

8. Hypothesis
Prediction
Educated guess
TESTABLE explanation

9. Experiment Test the hypothesis Test under controlled conditions
You control everything about the experiment (time, temperature, specimens, etc) except the thing you are testing.

10. Experiment
Everything in the experiment must be the same, except for the one variable that is being tested.
This is called the independent variable
Two groups are usually set up. The experimental group and a control group.
The control group is used for comparison, to find out if the experimental variable has an effect on the experiment.

11. Experiment
Except for the independent variable, all other variables will remain the same in both groups.
These variables that remain the same are called controlled variables or constants.
The sample size in your two groups should be large! This will reduce error.

12. Collecting Data During experiment collect ANY and ALL data:
Observations
Numbers
Pictures
Measurements
ETC.
Any hypothesis not supported by observations and the results of controlled experiments will be rejected.

13. Collecting Data
The data that you measure that directly answers your hypothesis is called the dependent variable.

14. Discussion/Analysis
Explain observations
Discuss data

15. Conclusion Accept hypothesis if it was supported by data
Reject hypothesis if data did not support
If the data does not support the hypothesis go back to asking more questions and make a new hypothesis to test

16. Scientific Theories are Tentative
NO absolute certainty in science
Always possibility that future evidence will cause a theory to be revised or discarded
Fact: a single observation, objective (not subject to opinion)
Theory: a unifying explanation for a broad range of observations
Best current knowledge
Law : proven true over and over, remains over time, less likely to be changed, believed by “all” of scientific community

17. Controlled Experiment
Hypothesis: If plants are fertilized weekly, then they will produce large flowers.
What is the independent variable?

18. Controlled Experiment
What are all of the variables (factors) that could effect the outcome of this experiment?
Do we want all of these variables to effect how much the flowers grow?
NO!!!!

19. Controlled Experiment
We want to run a Controlled Experiment to test only fertilizer.
So, we keep all of the other variables the same between the experimental group and the control group (except the one being tested).
These are called controlled variables, or constants.
So in this experiment the only difference is the experimental group has fertilizer and the control group doe not have fertilizer.

20. Controlled Experiment
What type of data should we collect? Remember there are two types.
What data must we collect to support our hypothesis?
What is this variable called?
Dependent Variable
What will we do next?
Analyze data

21. Conclusion Accept hypothesis if it was supported by data
Reject hypothesis if data did not support
If the data does not support the hypothesis go back to asking more questions and make a new hypothesis to test