THE SCIENTIFIC METHODThe scientific method

is used to understand the

world around us.

Start with an

ObservationTHE PROCESS OF OBTAINING INFORMATION BY USING THE

SENSES:

TASTE..TOUCH..SMELL..SIGHT..HEARING

STEP 1. IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

A problem is a situation in which an immediate solution is not known.

Identify the problem by

asking a question Problems are stated as questions. What do you want to know?

Can a ceiling fan chop your head off?Do you get wetter walking or running in the rain?

Could an exploding truck tire take off a motorist's head?

STEP 2.Research the Problem

Gather background information about yourquestion. Determine if the answer to your question

already exists,

if not…..

STEP 3.FORM A HYPOTHESIS

AN IDEA OR EXPLANATION THAT IS BASED ON OBSERVATION

AND CAN BE TESTED.This is an educated guess; a possible answer.It states what you think the answer to thequestion is. Most hypotheses are based on known facts.

Write as an “If ….

then…” statement.

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STEP 4.DESIGN AND PERFORM

AN EXPERIMENTA way to test the hypothesis.

•materials & quantities•detailed procedures.•safety concerns

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CONTROLLED AND CONTROLS

• A controlled experiment is one in which only one variable (independent) is changed.

• During an experiment, a control group is used as a comparison to the experimental group in order to support or reject the hypothesis.

VARIABLES• A variable is any factor of an experiment –

any part that changes or could be changed in the experiment.

• Independent variable (Manipulated) is the one part of the experiment that is purposefully changed.

• Dependent variable (Responding) is the part(s) of the experiment(s) that change because of the manipulated variable.

It is what you are measuring.

CONSTANTSA constant is any part of the experiment that stays the same

•Trials: The number of times a procedure is repeated for each experiment.

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STEP 5. COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA

• Use tables/graphs to represent data.

• Quantitative data – data based on measurements; numerical data.

• Qualitative data – observations based on one of the five senses

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Graphs: LINE, BAR, PIELine graphs are usually used to show how

something changes over time. (increasing, decreasing, constant, fluctuating)Bar graphs show a relationship between two things

(example: species and running speed).Pie graphs are used to show how something

relates to a whole.

GRAPHING Rules* ALL GRAPHS MUST HAVE A TITLE - the title tells the reader what the graph represents (what it is about).* LINE AND BAR GRAPHS HAVE AN X – AXIS (HORIZONTAL) AND A Y-AXIS (VERTICAL).

- each axis must be labeled with what it represents. - the x-axis represents the independent variable - the y-axis represents the dependent variable* GRAPHS MAY ALSO NEED A KEY

- keys are used when different colors or lines are used on the graph. The key tells you what the different lines or colors represent.

STEP 6.STATE CONCLUSIONS

• State the final results by answering the original question.

• Then state whether you accept or reject your hypothesis.

STEP 7.REPEAT THE EXPERIMENT• Do – over• You must be able to get the same results

for an experiment to be valid.

STEP 8.PUBLISH RESULTS

HYPOTHESIS – Example:_________________* a statement based only on observation, and that can be tested with an experiment

THEORY – Example:_________________* an idea based on many observations and

experimental evidence; years of data* can also be applied to unrelated facts and new

situations* flexible enough to be modified if new data/evidence

is introduced

LAW – Example:_________________* stands up to the test of time* experimentally confirmed, over and over again* has uniformity and is universal