Our Steps of the Scientific Method
1.
Make an observation
2.
Ask a question
3.
Gather Information/Research
4.
Hypothesisi. Provide an example of a hypothesis.
5.
Experimenting (Testing Hypothesis)
i. Experimental setup:
ii. Control Setup:
iii. Variables:
6.
Results
7.
Conclusion
8.
Share or Publish
Thought Question: What happens if the results of the experiment do not provide an answer to the original
question or problem?
Assignment: Everyone acts like a scientist sometimes. Think of something that really happens in your life, or
could happen in your life and apply the steps of the scientific method to that problem. Complete this on a
separate piece of paper and be sure to include each step.
The pictures below show a typical scientific experiment. Look at the pictures carefully, then answer the questions.
Growth of Plant
height ( cm)
15
Plant A
10
Plant B
5
0
0
5
10
15
time (days)
1. What is the independent variable in the experiment (change)?_______________________
2. What is the dependent variable (result or measurement) in the experiment?____________________
3. What are some of the controlled variables (same in both set-ups) for the experiment based on the picture?
___________________________________________________________________
4. Identify the data. How is it displayed?
___________________________________________________________________
5. Speculate (guess) as to what their hypothesis was before doing the experiment.
___________________________________________________________________
6. State the factual findings from the data. (important data pieces)
Independent and Dependent Variables
Name: ______________________
Independent Variable - Measurement or condition in the experiment that you change.
Dependent Variable - Measurement or condition in the experiment that changes because of a change to the
independent variable.
Read the experiments below. Circle the independent variable underline the dependent variable. List two other
variables that you should control.
1. Food coloring is added to cold water and hot water. Compare the rate of dispersion (how fast it spreads out) of the
food coloring.
I.V. - The temperature of the water
D.V. - The rate of dispersion of the food coloring
C.V. - The amount of water, size of beaker, amount of food coloring, height that food coloring is dropped.
2. How tall will tomato plants grow if we vary the amount of water we give the plant daily?
I.V. _______________________________________
D.V. ______________________________________
C.V. ______________________________________
3. My hypothesis is that the harder the snow is packed down on the ski slope, the faster I will ski.
I.V. _______________________________________
D.V. ______________________________________
C.V. ______________________________________
4. Of all the gases, I believe Sunoco gas produces the best gas mileage to a car.
I.V. _______________________________________
D.V. ______________________________________
C.V. ______________________________________
5. One factor that will affect the temperature inside the space cabin will be the color of the paint on the outside of the
space ship because different colors absorb different amounts of heat from the sun.
I.V. _________________________________________
D.V. ________________________________________
C.V. _________________________________________
6. Do all different brands of detergent clean alike. You will add different brands of detergent to a ketchup stain to
measure how well they remove the stain.
I.V. _________________________________________
D.V. ________________________________________
C.V. _________________________________________
7. How does the temperature of the water affect how well a detergent cleans?
I.V. __________________________________________
D.V. __________________________________________
C.V. __________________________________________
8. An experiment was designed to test the distance a paper airplane could fly. An average of three flights for four
different types of paper were found.
I.V. ___________________________________________
D.V. ___________________________________________
C.V. ___________________________________________
9. 50 people were tested to see if they preferred generic or brand name foods.
I.V. ____________________________________________
D.V. ___________________________________________
C.V. ____________________________________________
10. A study was done to see if where a student sat in class affected the grade that he/she received for the class.
I.V. ____________________________________________
D.V. ____________________________________________
C.V. _____________________________________________
11. An experiment was performed to see if different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide affected bacteria in pond
water.
I.V. _____________________________________________
D.V. _____________________________________________
C.V. _____________________________________________
12. A science fair project was done to see if different types of music affected short term memory. After a set of
numbers, one minute of music was played.
I.V. ______________________________________________
D.V. ______________________________________________
C.V. _______________________________________________
13. Tests were done to see if the windup or push -off start allows a swimmer to get to a given point faster.
I.V. ________________________________________________
D.V. _______________________________________________
C.V. ________________________________________________
14. Several experiments were done on hamsters and gerbils to see which could learn a maze quicker.
I.V. ________________________________________________
D.V. _______________________________________________
C.V. ________________________________________________