Scientific
Method
Introduction
Biology class
SC.BIO.10.03
SC.BIO 10.04
SC.BIO.20
What is a scientific
method?
Scientific method – is a process
for scientists to find the answer
to questions. It includes several
steps.
Scientific method has 5
steps:
1. Problem
2. Hypothesis
3. Experiment
4. Data
5. Conclusion
1. Problem
Problem- is a question(?) about
something. The question can be about
anything.
Question:
What will happen if I stop watering plants?
What will happen if I use sweet water to water
plants?
2. Hypothesis
Hypothesis - is an answer to the question
(the problem). It’s a guess or prediction.
You can make a better hypothesis by
reading a book, scientific article, online.
It becomes an educated guess or
educated prediction.
3. Experiment
Experiment- is a lab. A scientists must
design a lab and do it.
Variable- anything that is involved with
the experiment and influences the result.
It can be: how much salt, how much
sun, what kind of plant, how long in the
refrigerator etc.
3. Experiment (continue)
Experiments needs to be controlled.
Scientists need to keep all the variables
constant.
Constant – no change; is always stable.
Experiment
Control
group
Independent
variable
Experimental
group
Dependent
variable
3. Experiment (continue)
Experimental
group:
2 variables:
Independent variable
(manipulated variable)is a change in the
experiment
Dependent variable
(responding variable)- is
the response to the
change in the experiment
4. Data
Data- is recording. It can be numbers,
sentences, models, or anything.
It’s important to see a pattern in the
data. To see a pattern, you need to
transfer the data to graphs, charts, or
tables. It helps us with better predictions.
5. Conclusion
Conclusion - is a summary of the data. It
includes 2 parts:
1. What the hypothesis supported or
refuted by the data?
2. What is the reasoning behind the
experiment?
Theory
When a hypothesis was tested many times
with the same result, over time, it will become
a theory.
Matching
_____ Problem
a. is a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental
testing (many times) and becomes a theory
_____ Hypothesis
b. a variable that responded to a change in the
experiment
_____ Tests/Experiments
c. it is a question about something
_____ Data/Results
d. the hypothesis was either supported or refuted
by the tests/experiments; an explanation of what a
scientist learned
_____ Conclusion
e. a variable changed by a scientist on purpose
_____ Theory
f. the scientist performs the test/experiment to test
his/her hypothesis
_____ Independent Variable
g. the outcome (result) of the test/experiment
_____ Dependent Variable
h. it is an educated guess made by a scientist; it is an
answer to the question
Fill in blanks.
1. _________________ is an answer to a question.
2. When a hypothesis is based on reading scientific journal,
books, or internet, it becomes
_____________________________.
3. Recording or writing observations is a part of
___________.
4. In a conclusion, you must write if a hypothesis was
_______________ or ___________________ and ______.
5. A problem in the scientific method is _____________
about something.
6. A tested hypothesis many times becomes
_______________.
7. ________________ is anything that affects the outcome of
an experiment.
8. To see a pattern in the data, it’s better to transfer the
data to ___________, _______________ or ________.