SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• The scientific method is a
series of steps and a thought
process used to solve
problems.
• Scientific Method is used every day by all
sorts of people…not just scientists!
• There are 6 steps to completion of the
scientific method.
Step #1.
• 1. Purpose
• - What do you want to learn?? What is
the problem?
• This may begin with asking a question.
• Ex: What is the disease-causing
agent?
Step #2.
• 2. Research/Collecting Data.
• Observing
• Measuring
• Sampling
• Organizing data
Step #3.
• 3. Hypothesis
• An educated guess
• CAN BE TESTED!!!
• Can be supported or not
supported….never true or false.
• Written in the “if-then” form.
Examples of “If-then” form
• If detergents were to be tested, then
ERA would clean the best.
• If mice are subjected to microwaves,
then they will have a shorter life span.
• If the virus were the true diseasecausing agent, then introducing the
virus into healthy tissue would cause
cell death.
Step #4.
• 4. Experiment
• Process of testing hypothesis by
gathering data under controlled
conditions
Parts of an experiment
• Variables = things that change
• Independent variable - manipulated by the
experimenter.
• Example…amount of dog food
• Dependent variable-it is dependent on the
independent variable. It RESPONDS to the
experiment.
• Example…weight of dog
Parts of experiment continued…
•Control - What you compare to….a
standard.
•Constant - Something that never changes.
Variables should be the only thing that is
different…everything else should be held
constant!
•Theory = suggested EXPLANATION.
Step #5.
• 5. Analysis
• Collecting and organizing data from
the experiment
• Graphs
• Models
Step #6
• 6. Conclusion
• Stating whether the hypothesis was
supported or not supported
• Sum up the experiment
GRAPHING
There are rules & guidelines to graphing.
•You must always title your graph.
•You must always label the x & y axis
including the measurements!
•The independent variable always goes on the
x-axis.
•The dependent variable always goes on the yaxis.
•You must always mark the #’s in equal step
intervals.
•Make straight/accurate lines. Be neat!
GOOD
BAD
We will
be making
LINE
graphs.
You will
plot the
points and
then
connect
them with
a straight
line.
LINE graph = find the relationship
between two variables.
BAR = show a #
PIE = show %
When making a graph, make sure you
use all available space and make the line
take up the size of the graph.
Go to the following link for some exapmles:
http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/courses/ci330ms/youtsey/lineinfo.html