“How to Do Science”
Notes
A functional definition of science is the
observation, identification, description, and
explanation of natural phenomena.
The steps of the scientific method are
Identifying the problem, stating the
hypothesis, experimenting, Collecting data,
and making a conclusion.
Making observations means just looking at,
or studying things around you
Always ask questions about the
observations you make. For example, why
does a balloon full of helium float?
A Hypothesis is an educated guess that
includes the words “if” and “then”. For
example, IF I add vinegar to baking soda,
THEN it will begin to bubble.
Scientific experiments are designed to
examine one “variable” at a time
*Independent Variable- sometimes called
the manipulated variable. This is what you
are changing in the experiment.
*Dependent Variable- sometimes called the
responding variable. This variable changes
because you change the independent
variable.
*Control variables- All the other factors in
the experiment. These variables are never
changed.
The data of a scientific experiment is
collected in tables, graphs, charts, models,
and diagrams
A conclusion is a judgment based on your
observations and experimentation. For
example, “vinegar and baking soda bubble
when mixed because a chemical reaction
has occurred.”
A prediction is what you think will happen.
Scientists “debate”, or argue all the time
about different things. This is okay,
because it allows many people to study the
same thing and encourages us to seek the
truth.
How To Do Science
Review
1. A judgement based on data gathered
in an experiment is
a. A skill
b. A conclusion
c. A hypothesis
d. An observation
2. Scientists communicate their findings
a. Because they are bored
b. To share results and offer new
perspectives
c. Because they were told to do so
d. But don’t want their experiments
repeated
3. Researchers first communicate their
discoveries through
a. Journals and conferences
b. The Internet
c. Television and radio
d. None of these
4. Keisha observed a goldfish in an
outdoor pond. The goldfish seem to
be more active when the weather is
warm than when it is cold. She asks
herself, “How do temperature changes
affect goldfish?” If she were to do an
experiment, which of the following
would be the best hypothesis?
a. Do goldfish like warm water or
cold water?
b. Goldfish are more active in warm
water than in cold water.
c. Goldfish live in warm and cold
water.
d. Temperature changes will kill
goldfish.
5. A hypothesis is checked by
a. Research
b. Guessing
c. Experimentation
d. Researching the internet
6. Ryan noticed that his cola loses its
carbonation as it warms. He knows that it is
carbon dioxide that causes cola to fizz.
Ryan decided to do a scientific experiment
to research this phenomenon. What is the
next step Ryan should take?
a. ask a question
b. draw a conclusion
c. make an observation
d. form a hypothesis
7. Quantitative data shows
a. the exact amount of something
b. the estimates used in computations
c. hypothetical questions
d. your observations
8. Sometimes, especially with great
advances in modern science, observations
are made with the help of power in
instruments. In this case, we are able to
“observe” phenomena that would normally
be invisible to us. Can you name a few
observations that a scientist might make
using instrumentation?