Explain the steps in the scientific
method.
Ask
a Question based on your
observations: How, what, why,
where, when or who?
In order to use the scientific
method to answer the question,
it must be about something that
you can measure, preferably
with a number
Conduct
background
research –
Doing so will provide you
with valuable information
and help you choose the
best way to conduct your
experiment
 Construct
a hypothesis – an educated guess
about the question you are trying to answer.
 State your hypothesis as an “If . . . . . , then.
. .” statement.
 You must state your hypothesis in a way that
you can easily measure.
 Construct your hypothesis so it will help you
answer your original question.
 Test
your hypothesis with an experiment.
 Your experiment tests whether your
hypothesis is true or false.
 Be sure that you are testing only one factor
at a time while keeping all other conditions
constant
A
variable is something that
can be changed in the
experiment. Everything else
must be the same. Only one
variable or condition is
changed.
A
good problem question for a
controlled experiment can usually
be phrased in this form:
 How does one thing (manipulated
variable) affect another thing
(responding variable)?
 Ex. “How does the temperature of
water affect the ability of sugar to
dissolve?”
Manipulated
Variables – the
variable that is changed and
controlled by the scientist.
Responding Variables – the
variable that is observed and
that changes in response to
the manipulated variable.
MANIPULATED
VARIABLE IS
THE SAME THING AS THE
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE;
RESPONDING VARIABLE IS THE
SAME THING AS THE
DEPENDENT VARIABLE;
A
control group should be
used when conducting an
experiment. This group is
not tested. It is the standard
for comparison.
Constant
– factors in an
experiment that remain the
same.
Why?
No change so there is no
influence on the outcome of
the experiment.
QUESTION:
How will the
amount of fertilizer used affect
plant growth?
HYPOTHESIS: If the amounts of
fertilizer are increased, then
there will be greater growth in
tomato plants.
TEST VARIABLE: The amount of
fertilizer used.
 TEST
CONSTANTS:
 The seeds must all come from the same
package.
 All seeds must be planted in the same sized
pots with similar soil.
 All plants must receive exactly the same
amount of water and light.
 The temperature should be the same for all test
plants.
 Set
one group as the CONTROL
GROUP. This group is not given fertilizer.
 Set up two other test groups. Once receives a
certain amount of fertilizer and the other
receives twice as much.
 ANALYSIS
OF DATA: A triple bar graph or
line graph of the growth of your plants.
CONCLUSION: Which plant group grew the
most? Why or why not? What would you do
differently next time?
Step
5: Collect/record
data from your
experiment
Step 6: Draw a conclusion
– analyze your results to
see if your hypothesis is
true or false.
Repeated
experimentation
leads to the formation of
a:
Theory – a well-tested
explanation that unifies a
broad range of
observations
 Lab
Report Template
 Title:
 * a brief, concise, yet descriptive title
 Statement of the Problem:
 * What question(s) are you trying to answer?
* Include any preliminary observations or
background information about the subject
 Hypothesis:
 * Write a possible solution for the problem.
* Make sure this possible solution is a
complete sentence.
* Make sure the statement is testable.






Materials:
* Make a list of ALL items used in the lab.
Procedure:
* Write a paragraph (complete sentences) which
explains what you did in the lab.
* Your procedure should be written so that anyone
else could repeat the experiment.
Results (Data):
* This section should include any data tables,
observations, or additional notes you make during
the lab.
* You may attach a separate sheet(s) if necessary.
* All tables, graphs and charts should be labeled
appropriately
 Conclusions:
*
Accept or reject your hypothesis.
* EXPLAIN why you accepted or rejected your
hypothesis using data from the lab.
* Include a summary of the data - averages,
highest, lowest..etc to help the reader
understand your results
* List one thing you learned and describe
how it applies to a real-life situation.
*Discuss possible errors that could have
occurred in the collection of the data
(experimental errors)