Scientific Method
Language of Science…
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How we study science today was developed
long ago by our scientist fore-fathers and
mothers
Today you start to learn the language of
Science!!!
Fathers of the Scientific
Method
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Aristotle
Roger Bacon
Galileo
Francis Bacon
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Other notable
contributors:
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John Dewey
Isaac Newton
Robert Boyle
Gregor Mendel
Benjamin Franklin
Charles Darwin
Albert Einstein
Scientific Method – Bubble
Map
Scientific
Method
Steps of the
Scientific Method
1)
2)
3)
4)
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9)
Identify a Problem/Challenge/Objective
State Questions/Observations about the problem
Form a Hypothesis about the problem (if…then…)
Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis
Collect Data
Analyze Data
Form a Conclusion
Retest
Share the Results
1. Identify the Issue
■Name or state the
issue/problem/objective after you
have asked questions
■Needs to be specific and not general
■Example: Does fertilizer help a
bean plant grow taller?
Ask Questions like a
Scholar!
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Ask questions with a specific goal or
outcome in mind:
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Why…?
Where…?
What…?
How…?
When…?
Who…?
2. Observations
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A scientist notices and describes
the details in their natural world
through observations
Observations are pieces of
information or details that are
gathered through your senses
They are recorded for future study
3. Form a Hypothesis
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A hypothesis is a:
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suggested solution to the problem.
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Must be able to test it
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Written as If…Then… statements
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Educated Guess
Hypothesis
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An example of a hypothesis might
be:
“If 150 grams of fertilizer is used
to grow a bean plant, then the
plant will grow taller.”
4. Design an Experiment
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An experiment is written/typed plan
to test the hypothesis.
An experimenter changes one
factor and observes or measures
what happens.
Experiment – Variables
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In the experiment there will be
variables
A Variable is a factor in the
experiment that is being tested
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Example: height of the plant
Experiment Groups
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Two groups are required:
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The Control Group (CG)
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The Experimental Group (EG)
The Control Group
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Purpose of a Control
Group is to NOT be
tested
Controls are used
for COMPARISON
Ex: Giving bean
plants water only
instead of fertilizer
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The experimenter keeps
other variables constant
so that they will not
affect the outcome.
Those factors are
called control
variables.
Ex: Same bean plant, same
amount of sunlight
Experimental Group
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The factor that is
changed by the
scientist is known
as the
independent
variable.
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Ex: growing bean
plants with
fertilizer
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The factor that
is measured or
observed is
called the
dependent
variable.
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Ex: the height of
the bean plants
Example
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For example, suppose you want to figure
out the fastest route to walk home from
school.
You will try several different routes and
time how long it takes you to get home by
each one.
Since you are only interested in finding a
route that is fastest for you, you will do
the walking yourself.
What are the Variables in
Your Experiment?
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the different routes is the
____________
variable.
independent
The time it takes is the
dependent variable.
_________
Keeping the same walker
throughout makes the walker a
control variable.
________
5. Collect Data
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Data are pieces of information
that come from the experiment
May be quantitative
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Ex: numbers amount, frequency,
measurements
or qualitative
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Ex: Descriptive color, taste, smell,
texture, shape, and sound
Data Collection
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Data must be organized into:
Plant #3
Group A
6
■ Tables/Charts
Plant #1 Plant #2 Plant
Plant Group B
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Graphs
Diagrams
Day 1
4
3 2:
Day
2
Day 3
1
Day
4:
0
Lab Station
Lab1Station
Lab2Station
Lab3Station 4
6. Data Analysis
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Data analysis involves:
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Comparing data from the experimental
group (EG) and control group (CG)
Reflection did the data support your
original hypothesis? Did it NOT support
your hypothesis?
7. Conclusion
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A conclusion is a
statement/answer to the
hypothesis based on the
data from the experiment
8. Retest
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In order to verify the
results, experiments must
be retested.
Steps to Solving a Problem
1)_______ a Problem
2) State ___________ about the problem
3) Form a ________ about the problem (if…then…)
4) Design an ________ to ____ the _________
5) Collect______
6) __________ data
7) Form a ___________
8) _______
9) ________ your Results