Scientific Method:
A Case Study
Set up Cornell, title, date, page
Gingko Biloba
A plant known for it’s curative
properties.
 Fossils date back to 270 million years
ago
 Known as “brain herb”
 Studies have shown it to help improve
the memory of patients.

1. Problem or Question

Does Ginkgo Biloba really help people
with memory loss?
2. Hypothesis: an
educated guess
My hypothesis is that if people take
Gingko Biloba tea, then their memory
will improve.
***Always written as if…then !

3. The Experiment; steps
to test out the hypothesis
Take 300 people and divide them up
into three groups.
 Group A: no gingko biloba
 Group B: gingko biloba tea daily , 1
cup


Test the memory of each group with a
matching game and time their speed.
Variables: are factors that
can affect the outcome of
the experiment. .
A. Independent Variable: the variable
that we change to observe the results.
*The drinking of gingko tea
B.
Dependant Variable: the factor being
measured
*memory
C. Constant variables: all factors kept the same
for all groups
*Same amt. Tea, same diet, similar age, same
health status, same amt. of exercise
4. Record and Analyze :
examine the data from
the experiment.
Analysis No. 1
 Group A : memory increase of 10%
 Group B: memory increase of 16%
 Group C: memory increase of 11%.

5. Conclusion…confirm (accept) or reject
(do not accept) the hypothesis.
“Gingko Biloba does improve the memory
significantly! The hypothesis is confirmed! “

Analysis cont’d




Analysis Data No. 2
Group A memory: 2 % increase
Group B memory: 3% increase
Group C memory: 2 % increase
Conclusion…
“The data leads to rejection of the
hypothesis. Gingko does not improve
memory! “
***The 1 % difference is not significant…not
enough of change!

Summarize Notes