THE
SCIENTIFIC
METHOD
Topic 1
WHAT IS SCIENCE?
- a body of knowledge
based on observation
and experimentation
HOW DO WE ACQUIRE
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
SCIENCE?
We use the
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
WHAT IS THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD?
- a series of steps to be
followed when trying to
reach a conclusion
WHAT ARE THE STEPS?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Ask a question
Do Research
Form a Hypothesis
Perform an Experiment
Collect and Analyze Data
Make a Conclusion
1. ASK A QUESTION
- questions usually come
from observations you
make about your
surroundings
WHAT’S AN
OBSERVATION?
- an observation is
information gathered
using one or many of your
senses
THE SENSES
How many do you have? 5
EXAMPLES OF
QUESTIONS/
PROBLEMS…
•Why do leaves change color
in the fall?
•What is a rainbow?
•How did the Grand Canyon
form?
2. DO RESEARCH
You can use
• the Internet
• Research journals
• periodicals
3. FORM A HYPOTHESIS
- an educated prediction
about the outcome of an
experiment
HYPOTHESIS…
These statements must
include…
1. If
2. then
ex) If salt crystals are broken
into smaller pieces then they will
dissolve faster in water.
4. DESIGN AN
EXPERIMENT
Controlled experiment
• only one variable at a
time is being changed
• Variable- factor that can
change or be changed
2 TYPES OF VARIABLES
• Independent
• Dependent
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
variable that is changed
by the experimenter
“I” change the
independent
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
variable that changes
because of the
independent variable
dependent depends on the
independent
THE CONTROL
the factor in an experiment
that represents “normal”
conditions and what you
compare the experimental
data to
CONSTANTS
Constants are factors
that remain the same
throughout the
experiment
5. COLLECT AND
ANALYZE DATA
All data must be included,
you cannot OMIT anything
TYPES OF
OBSERVATIONS
Objective- just the facts,
no opinions are included
Subjective- personal
opinions are included
OBJECTIVE VS
SUBJECTIVE
YOU DECIDE…
1.
2.
3.
4.
objective
It’s 78° outside.
This room is cold. subjective
Erin is short. subjective
objective
His t-shirt is green.
INFERENCE
An inference is a
conclusion that logically
follows a set of
observations
READ THE FOLLOWING
PARAGRAPH AND UNDERLINE THE
SENTENCE THAT IS AN INFERENCE
IN YOUR NOTES
THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN REALLY HOT. I
ONLY WATERED MY GARDEN A COUPLE OF
TIMES. THE LEAVES OF MY PLANTS ARE DRY
AND THE EDGES ARE TURNING YELLOW AND
BROWN. I DON’T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO
PRODUCE ANY FLOWERS.
OBSERVATION VS
INFERENCE
YOU DECIDE…
1. That cloud is gray. observation
2. It looks like it’s going to
rain. inference
3. It looks hot outside. inference
TYPES OF GRAPHS
• Bar Graph
• Line Graph
GRAPH SETUP
• Give the graph a title
• Label and scale the x- axis
- Independent variable data
• Label and scale the y- axis
- Dependent variable data
6. MAKE A CONCLUSION
Compare hypothesis to
experimental data
• Hypothesis accepted
• Hypothesis rejected
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
Accepted hypothesis
• Report results
• Peer review
Rejected hypothesis
• Start over