Transcript What is the Scientific Method?

The Scientific Method
What is the Scientific Method?
The scientific method is the basic method,
guide, and system by which we originate,
refine, extend, and apply knowledge in all
fields.
What is the Scientific Method?
The way we (scientists) do things.
• Scientists have a unique way of looking at the
world.
•They want to know more about their world.
•They follow a set of rules for governing their
research
The Complete Method of
Problem Solving and Decision
Making for All Fields
Steps to the
Scientific
Method
Problem / Question
• The scientific method starts when you ask a
question about something that you observe: How,
What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?
• In order for the scientific method to answer the
question, it must be about something that you can
measure, preferably with a number.
Research
Sources include:
- Past relevant experiments
- Encyclopedias
- Scientific Journals
- RELIABLE Online Resources
Must be in your OWN WORDS
Proper citing is important! Give credit where it is due
Hypothesis
Must be in IF-THEN-BECAUSE format!
TESTABLE
Independent Variable:
The condition be studied. It is controlled by the
experimenter.
ex. Water
Dependent Variable:
The condition affected by the ind. variable. It can’t
be controlled by the experimenter.
ex. Plant Growth
Control:
The condition that is represented in a normal
situation

Constructing Your “If” Statement
1. Start your sentence with the word “If”
2. Write down one of the variables
3. Connect statement with one of the following:
is related to
is affected by
Causes
4. Write down the other variable
Constructing Your “Then” Statement
- Write the word “then” (following the “if” section)
- Make a comment on the relationship between
those two variables.
Ex. If section:
If water is related to plant growth,
Ex. Then section:
then the more plants are watered, the
taller they will grow.
Hypothesis Exercises
1. Chocolate may cause pimples.
2. Salt in soil may affect plant growth.
3. Plant growth may be affected by the color of the
light.
4. Bacterial growth may be affected by temperature.
5. Ultra violet light may cause skin cancer.
6. Temperature may cause leaves to change color.
Test the
Hypothesis
Experiments test your
hypothesis.
The best experimental
design is “controlled.”
Controlled Experimentation
In most experiments there is a control group and
experimental groups. The two groups are as similar as
possible, but the treatment group is the one that
experiences the variable that you’re studying.
Control Group – group in which the independent variable
is either eliminated or set at a standard value. You MUST
have a control group in order to be able to measure the
effects of your independent variable upon the dependent
variable.
Experimental Group(s) – groups which are being exposed
to the independent variable.
Collect Data
The results of an
experiment are called
“data.”
Scientists use their
five senses to collect
data.
Collect Data
Scientists often use specialized equipment
to help them collect their data.
Analyze Data
Now that you
have your
data, you must
make sense of it.
Scientists use:
- Charts
- Tables
- Graphs
- Equations
What does the data mean?
There are two options:
The evidence supports the
hypothesis.
The evidence is inconsistent
with the hypothesis.
What do you do?
If the data is inconsistent with the hypothesis, you
revise your hypothesis in light of your new
information. Then you design a new experiment.
If the data supports the
hypothesis, you repeat
the experiment several
times to make sure you
did everything right.
OK, I’ve got it all right.
Now what?
Tell everyone, silly!
Scientists publish
their findings to
share what they’ve
discovered with
other scientists (and
to brag a little, too.)