Scientific Method
From Observation to
Conclusion
Step 1: Make An Observation
Look at the world around you and use
what you know to collect information.
Qualitative = Quality
Describes our observation using our five
senses.
Quantitative = Quantity
Measureable data from our observation
Step 2: Identify the Question
Based On Observations
A question should be
investigable and plausible.
A question should lead to an
experiment.
Step 3: Research
Research is important to fully
understand the question you
are asking and to know what
to measure and observe.
Step 4: Form a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a predicted explanation
for a question based on an observation.
It must be testable, provide measurable
results, and support or disprove a
question.
Writing a Hypothesis
Often written as a
“If… then… because…” Statement
Example: If students consume to much sugar,
then class productivity will decrease. Because
high amounts of sugar can lead to hyperactivity.
Step 5: Design an Experiment
The process to test the hypothesis by
collecting data under controlled
conditions.
Must have variables:
Independent variable: one thing that is
being tested or deliberately changed.
Dependent variable: measurable results
of changing the independent variable.
Variables Cont.
Control: things that are kept the same in
the experiment.
Now that we have figured out what we
are testing and how we are testing it is
time to run our
experiment!
REMEMBER
Change one variable at
a time and all
experiments must be
measurable.
Step 6: Collecting &
Interpreting Data
Now that we have run an
experiment and collected
observations we must record
our findings.
Is the data quantitative or
qualitative?
Tables, Graphs, and Charts
Y Axis:
Dependent
Variable, the
thing being
measured or
observed
Growth in cm
10
8
6
4
2
0
A
B
PLANTS
X Axis: Independent
Variable, the thing being
tested or changed
C
D
Step 7: Conclude and Report
Analyze the observations from the
experiment and state if the hypothesis
was correct or incorrect.
Explain why the hypothesis was correct
or incorrect.
The experiment must be repeatable.
The cycle of the
scientific method
Observe
Conclusion
Question
Data
Collection
Research
Experiment
Hypothesis
RUN THROUGH
AN
EXPERIMENT
TOGETHER
Crickets keep me up!
I have crickets in my house, its keeping me up
and I need my sleep. I want to observe if I turn
off the heat at night if the crickets will stop
chirping.
Pose a question:
Is cricket chirping related to temperature?
Hypothesis:
Crickets will chirp more when the temperature is high.
Design an experiment:
• I captured three crickets and I am going separate
them into groups of three, put each one in a
separate container, and put each container in
different temperatures.
• Control : use the same kinds of containers, same type of
crickets, when I observe and the length of time I observe the
crickets.
• Independent variable: The temperature changes on the
crickets.
• Dependent variable: The amount of times the crickets
chirp per minute over a half hour at a set temperature.
Temperature
15 ⁰ C
Illustration
from my
experiment.
25 ⁰ C
35 ⁰ C
Cricket 1
Cricket 2
Cricket 3
Collecting and
Interpreting data
I created a table to
explain what I have
collected. However, I
want to explain what I
have collected to
show the difference in
the temperature
compared to the
amount of cricket
chirping.
Cricket group
Temperature
⁰C
Amount of
chirping in 30
minutes
Cricket 1
15 ⁰ C
11 times
Cricket 2
25 ⁰ C
24 times
Cricket 3
35 ⁰ C
49 times
Cricket Chirping
after temperature change
What does the graph
mean?
Y axis
60
•The independent variable 50
(X-axis).
The temperature change 40
on each set of crickets.
30
•The dependent variable
(Y-axis).
The amount the crickets
chirp over 30 minutes.
20
10
Chirps during
30 min.
Cricket 1
15 ⁰ C
Cricket 2 Cricket 3
35 ⁰ C
25 ⁰ C
X axis
Conclusion and Report
• Now that you have your data and made the
information readable, use the data to confirm
or reject your hypothesis.
• From the data on the crickets
we can conclude that colder
temperatures will
lower the amount of chirping.