The Scientific Method Notes

What is the Scientific Method?
 The basic steps that scientists follow in uncovering facts and solving scientific problems (a plan
for solving a problem).
 An organized plan for gathering, organizing and communicating data
 Eight Steps - depends on source
 Paul’s observations hardly plan experimental records, research conundrum
 Steps
1. Problem (Ask a Question)
2. Observations and Complete Background Research
3. Hypothesis Development
4. Plan Experiment
5. Experiment (Test your Hypothesis)
6. Record
7. Report (Analyze the Data)
8. Conclusion (Report and Share)

Step 1: Problem (Forming a Question)
 Develop a question or problem that can be solved through experimentation.
 Cleary Stated
 Clearly refined to identify the variable being tested
 Narrow Scope
 Can you form a question about a gummy bear in water?

Step 2: Observation and Background Research
 Everything starts with an observation
 It will be used to form a hypothesis
 Collect knowledge needed to know about the subject of the experiment
 What can you observe and research about a gummy bear?

Step 3: Develop a Hypothesis
 Hypothesis = an educated prediction to the answer of the stated problem
 Clearly states what you expect to happen based on observations and background information
 Two accepted formats:
 “I think…because…” Or “If…then…because…”
 Both formats include the all-important “because statement” used to justify your
prediction.
 Examples:

“I think…because…”

I think a gummy bear can expand in water____ times, because it can absorb
water
 “If…then…because…”
 If a gummy bear is placed in water it will expand____ times because it will
absorb water.

Step 4: Plan Experiment to Test Hypothesis
 The design test the hypothesis
 For our experiments often we will only test ONE variable
 Ensure safety and is doable
 The procedure is clearly mapped out and replicable
 What are the materials?

Step 5: Experiment
 This is where you conduct an experiment (a situation specially set up to observe how something
happens or to test your hypothesis)
 Do multiple trials or runs
 Create multiple data sets
 Includes variables:
Team
Definition
Graph
Placement
Independent
What you are changing in the experiment
Cause
y-axis
Variable
Dependent
The outcome caused by changing the
Effect
x-axis
Variable
independent variable, a measurement
Control
Used for comparison in your experiment
Comparison
 What are our variables in the gummy bear experiment?

Step 6: Record (collect and analyze the data
 Use the appropriate type of graph is select to display the data
o Clear title
o Axes are clearly labeled
o Make it clear for anyone
 Include data in a data chart
 Construct charts, graphs, averages, percentages, etc
 How would you graph the Gummy Bear experiment?

Step 7: Results
 Use data to let anyone know how you interpret the data
 This is not where you write the conclusion – this is where you interpret the data.
 For example: according to the data, the gummy bear’s density stayed the same but it grow three
times the size of the control.
 For example: The gummy bear’s size did not grow fast during the first day, but grew three times
the size of the control on the second day

Step 8: Conclusion (sharing)
 A summary of results, the answer to your question.
 What were the possible sources of error?
 Does your data (answer) support your hypothesis? Why or why not?
 What conclusion can you make about the Gummy Bear lab?
 We conclude that our hypothesis was supported or not supported based on our data.