Scientific Method
Note cards
th
6
► Know
grade study guides
the 2 types of observations
► Know the difference between an
observation & an inference
► Know how to write a good testable question
► Be able to write a strong hypothesis
► Be able to write a clear and concise lab
Observations
► When
you gather information using your 5 senses
or a measuring device
►2
types:
► Qualitative
(quality) – observations made using
your 5 senses
► Quantitative
(quantity) – observations made using
measuring devices
Inferences
► An
►A
explanation of an observation
conclusion that you draw after analyzing
the data
Testable Questions
►
A question that can be answered through
an experiment
Go to format:
What is the effect of __ on
___?
How do you write a good testable
question?
► Should
be:
1. Testable
2. Contain a cause/effect relationship
3. Be specific
4. Be measurable
5. What are you measuring?
Testable Question Example
► What
effect does studying 30 minutes each
night have on my test grades?
Hypothesis
► An
educated guess (based on information
that you gather)
► If…then…because
Hypothesis Example
► If
I increase the amount of time that I study
each night by 30 minutes, then my test
grades will go up because the information
will go from my short term memory to my
long term memory.
Variables
► vary
= change
► able = able
► Variable
= able to change
► Variables
are important when you are
designing your experiment
Independent Variables
► What
► The
is being tested
cause
If…
Cause
Then…
Effect
Because
Reason why
Dependent Variables
► What
► The
is being measured
effect
If…
Cause
Then…
Effect
Because
Reason why
Constants & Controls
► In
an experiment, only 1 thing can
change!
► Everything
the same
else in the experiment must stay
Practice Scenario
If I put 4 apple slices in a bag with lemon juice
and 4 apple slices in a bag with no lemon juice,
then the apples in the bag with lemon juice will
take more time to brown because the lemon juice
helps preserve the apple slice.
► What
is the independent variable?
► What is the dependent variable?
► What is the constant (or control)?
Variables Example
► Independent
► Dependent
brown
► Constant
Variable – lemon juice
Variable – time it takes to turn
(or Control) – 4 apple slices in a
sealed bag, same apple ripeness