1. The Scientific Method
Biology
Ms. Stocker

2. The Scientific Method Series of steps to solve a problem
Scientists use several ways to analyze situations:
Experiments
Models
Observations

3. Steps Abbreviation to remember: PHEOC
There are small differences to each step and where to do each process
This works for this class!

4. P - Problem
It is a question that a scientist asks after observing something in nature
Always look for a “?”
If you are identifying a problem it will always be a question

5. H - Hypothesis A hypothesis is the answer to the question
Generally an educated guess
In other words, you do research to make an informed decision about what is the answer to your problem
Hypothesis must be testable
Written in “If…Then…” format
If a plant gets 20 hours of sunlight, then it will grow taller.

6. E – Experiment This is how a scientist tests their hypotheses
It is a set of materials and a step by step procedure for conducting the experiment
It is very detailed and designed to test only one thing at a time
If an experiment cannot be repeated the results would be invalid or not true!

7. O – Observations
This is data, table, charts, and graphs that are created while you experiment and after
They give visual representation of what you learned in the experiment

8. C – Conclusion Restates hypothesis and if it was correct
The assumption is based on the data collected in the experiment
If the experiment did not support the hypothesis you identify ways you might need to retest your hypothesis