1. SCIENTIFIC METHOD: THE SPECIAL WAY IN WHICH A SCIENTIST GATHERS INFORMATON AND TESTS IDEAS. How scientists search for answers. A logical way of solving problems.

2. 5 PROCESSES OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD 1. OBSERVATION 2. RESEARCH 3. HYPOTHESIS 4. EXPERIMENT 5. DRAW A CONCLUSION

3. 1. OBSERVATION: AN EXAMINATION OF SOME PART OF NATURE.  The senses of sight, smell, touch, taste & hearing are used in making observations.  Observations are recorded.  Observations often lead scientists to ask questions.

4. 2. RESEARCH: TO FIND OUT WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THE SUBJECT.

5. 3. HYPOTHESIS: A PROPOSED ANSWER TO A QUESTION – AN EDUCATED GUESS.  What you think will happen – a prediction.  It is your “best guess” or “educated guess”.  Based on observations and research.

6. 4. EXPERIMENT: THE TEST FOR THE HYPOTHESIS. Two parts or groups in many experiments. A. Control group – used as a comparison group. B. Experimental group – differs from the control group in only one factor or condition. ** At the end of the experiment, the two groups are compared.

7. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: The factor that scientists change in an experiment. EX: Some plants get Miracle Gro and some do not. DEPENDENT VARIABLE: What scientists observe and measure. (results) EX: How tall the plants grow in centimeters.

8. 5. CONCLUSION: IS A STATEMENT OF WHETHER OR NOT THE DATA FROM AN EXPERIMENT SUPPORTS THE HYPOTHESIS.  The Scientist may conclude that the data does support the hypothesis. (True)  The Scientist may conclude that the data does not support the hypothesis (False) – and form a new hypothesis and experiment.  USE ACTUAL DATA TO SUPPORT!