The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method
The scientific method is the only scientific
way accepted to back up a theory or
idea. This is the method on which all
research projects should be based. The
Scientific Method is used by researchers all
over the world to support or disprove a
theory.
The Scientific Method
is a logical and rational order of steps
by which scientists come to
conclusions about the world around
them….
Simply put… Science is the search for
knowledge
The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method involves 9 steps:
1 - Observation
2 – Question
3 - Gather information
4 - Hypothesis
5 – Experimentation/Procedure
6 – Collect Data
7 - Analyze
8 - Conclusion
9 – Share Result with your Peers
Observation
- You observe something
in the material world, using your senses
or machines which are basically
extensions of those senses.
AH—Look at this!
Question
- You ask a question
about what you observe.
State the problem or question.
Gather Information
Research and gather information on your
question to form a stronger hypothesis
(educated guess).
Hypothesis
- You predict what you think the
answer to your question might be.
A good hypothesis is written as an
“If ___, then ___” statement.
An educated guess.
Experimentation/Procedure
- You figure out a way to test whether
the hypothesis is correct. The outcome must be
measurable (quantifiable).
AND it must be “REPEATABLE”
Collect and Record Data
Name, date and time/period , along with location
and Title
-Record all data, pertinent facts and
changes of the experiment.
-Then Analyze the data, statistically
and inferentially.
-Recording and Analyzing of data is
sometimes considered two different steps.
Analyze Results
• Organize data
• Calculate and Analyze
• Then Analyze the data, statistically
• and inferentially.
• Repeat experiment. Why?
Conclusion
- You state whether
your hypothesis/prediction was confirmed
or not and try to explain your results.
Share Results
Share your findings with your peers.
In today’s scientific community, results can be shared
“Globally”, in seconds, with a click of a button.
List five ways we can connect “Globally” with our peers.
Test Your Knowledge
PART 1: Match the following components of the Scientific Method to their
definitions.
1. ___ Analyze
2. ___ Hypothesis
3. ___ Conclusion
4. ___ Problem
5. ___ Procedure
6. ___ Observations
7. ___ Research
8. ___ Share
9. ___ Record data
A. States the question.
B. Tells what happened during your experiment.
C. Send results to peers
D. Explains why your results happened.
E. Collects information from experiment
F. Prediction to the question. Educated Guess
G. Shows the steps you took to do your experiment.
H. 1st. And most important facet of science.
I. Gather information
Experimental Groups






Control – Does not change,
Variable – Changes
Independent variable – Changed
by experimenter to cause change
Dependent variable – resulting
changes of independent variable
Direct variable – both variables
change in the same direction
Indirect variable – both variables
change in opposite direction
Changes = Delta =
Changing quantities are called
variables. A variable is any factor,
trait, or condition that can exist in
differing amounts or types. An
experiment “usually” has three kinds of
variables: controlled, independent, and
dependent.
Quanatative
In a good experiment, the
scientist must be able to
measure the values for each
variable. Measurable
 Emotions are hard to measure.

In Variable Summary




Controlled variables answer the question
"What do I keep the same?“
Independent variables answer the question
"What do I change?“
Dependent variables answer the question
"What do I observe?"
Extraneous variables answer the question
"What uninteresting variables might
mediate (cause) an effect.
In Variable Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2
606GQmDqY
Extra Variables

Direct -

Indirect

Extraneous – are uninteresting variables
other than the independent variable
that may bear any effect on the
behavior of the subject being studied.
Such as age, gender, race, nationality…
Direct Variable
We have direct variation if the
two variables change in the same
sense; i.e. if one increases, so does
the other.
•
Indirect Variable
• We have indirect variation if one
going up causes the other to go
down. An example of this might be
speed and time to do a particular
journey; so the higher the speed, the
shorter the time.
Direct vs. Indirect Variable Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v
=pQ8-ktmNAC4&NR=1
List in Order
PART 2: Put the components of the Scientific Method into
the correct order.
1. __________
6. __________
2. __________
7. __________
3. __________
8. __________
4. __________
9. __________
5. __________
Scenario
Synopsis:
•________________________ Jenny states that if she
sprays her vegetables with a natural, homemade solution to
help fight the bug problem, then her vegetables will still
grow to the same size as they would if she used store
bought pesticides
•_________________________Jenny tells her grandfather
how her experiment went. He tries her homemade solution
in his garden with the same results.
Scenario
•_________________________Jenny sprays one third of her
vegetables with store bought pesticides, one third of her
vegetables with her homemade solution, and does not spray the
remaining third (her control group)
•________________________ After one week, Jenny
compares and tests the differences in her vegetables
•________________________ Jenny wonders how she can
protect her plants from bugs without harming the vegetables
Scenario
•________________________ Jenny determines that her
homemade solution was just as effective as the store-bought
pesticides
•______________________ Jenny goes to the library and
looks up different kind of pesticides and their effect on
vegetables and also looks up natural remedies to help solve
her bug problem
•_______________________ Jenny has been working hard all
summer on her tomato garden. Recently, she noticed that
insects have been eating her tomatoes and tomato plants and
she is worried about spraying them with harmful, store-bought
pesticides
The Scientific Method
•Test you knowledge by creating a
Scientific Scenario.
•Observe and pick out a question that
needs answering.
•Follow and describe each step of the
The Scientific Method.
•Design an Experiment to test your
scenario’s hypothesis
Create a Scientific Scenario
Create a scenario using the 9
listed Scientific Method steps with
your lab group similar to the
scenario above.
Design an Experiment for Your
Scenario
•Design an experiment for your Scenario.
•Include:
• Reasoning and expected outcomes.
• Procedure/Steps
•Control group, independent and dependent
variables, direct and indirect variables
• Materials List
• Safety