Scientific Method
What is the
scientific method?
It is a process that is used to find
answers to questions about the
world
around us.
Is there only one “scientific
method”?
No!!
Some versions have more steps,
while others may have only a few.
Is there only one “scientific
method”?
They all begin with the identification of
a problem or a question to be answered
based on observations of the world
around us and provide an organized
method for conducting and analyzing an
experiment
STEPS #1 PROBLEM
O Identify the Problem
O What do you want to know or
explain?
O Use observations you have
made to write a question that
addresses the problem or topic
you want to investigate
STEP #2 HYPOTHESIS
O Form a Hypothesis
O What do you think will happen?
O Predict the answer to your
question or the outcome of the
experiment.
Hypothesis
It is an educated guess based on observations
and your knowledge of the topic
If …then ….statements!
STEP #3 EXPERIMENT
O Create an Experiment
O How will you test your
hypothesis? Develop a procedure
for a reliable experiment and
address safety rules.
O Step by step
STEP #4 PERFORM
EXPERIMENT
O Perform an Experiment
O Follow the steps in your
procedure to perform your
experiment.
O Record data and observations!
STEP #5 Data
O Analyze the Data
O Is the data reliable?
O Does your data and observations
from the experiment support your
hypothesis?
Data
O Information gathered in the
experiment
O Charts, Graphs, and Tables
are the easiest data
collection methods.
STEP #6 Experiment
O If your data is flawed or
inaccurate…
O Modify the Experiment
O Rewrite your procedure to
address the flaws in the original
experiment
STEP #7 Results
O Communicate the Results
O Write a conclusion that
summarizes the important
parts of your experiment
and the results
Hypothesis
OEducated Guess
O“If (independent)…then
(dependent variable)..”
Variables
O variable is an object, event,
idea, feeling, time period, or
any other type of category
you are trying to measure.
O There are two types of
variables-independent and
dependent
Independent Variable
O Stand alone
O Is not changed by other variables
Examples
O Age
O Height
O Genes
O DNA
Dependent Variable
O Depends on other factors
O Examples TEST SCORES could change
based on many factors.
O Independent variable) causes a
change in (Dependent Variable) and it
isn't possible that (Dependent
Variable) could cause a change in
(Independent Variable).
Examples
O For example:
O (Time
Spent Studying) causes a change
in (Test Score) and it isn't possible that
(Test Score) could cause a change in
(Time Spent Studying).
O We see that "Time Spent Studying" must be the
independent variable and "Test Score" must be the
dependent variable because the sentence doesn't make
sense the other way around.