Transcript Scientific Method

Scientific Method
Reassessment Review
Take notes on EVERY page
of this PowerPoint.
When you are finished
complete the Variables
Practice Page.
There are seven steps to the
Scientific Method.
1. Problem or Question
2. Observations/Information/Research
3. Hypothesis
4. Procedure
5. Experiment
6. Collect and Analyze Data
7. Conclusion & Communication
By following these steps in order
you will learn about your
question.
Notice the IN ORDER part. It
is very important.
Problem or Question
*This is the question that you are trying to
answer or problem that you are trying to
solve.
*Try to narrow it down and be very
specific.
Observations / Information / Research GET EDUCATED! gather data about your question.
books
magazines
reports
experts
your past experiences
Hypothesis
-an educated guess
-a prediction based on data
-what you think the answer is based upon your
gathered information
- an if…then statement that should include two
variables
1. Independent Variable – the one YOU are testing
2. Dependent Variable – the one that may change
because of the Independent Variable
Procedures
This can be broken into 2 parts, materials
and procedure.
Materials is a list of equipment that you
will need for the experiment.
Procedure is a list of instructions that you
need to follow for the experiment.
Experiment
 Teast your hypothesis by following your
procedures.
 Only one variable should be changed
during the experiment. This is called the
Independent Variable and is the one being
tested.
Collect & Analyze the Data
Collection of information and data from the
experiment and look for patterns.
 See if anything changed because of the change
you made in your Independent Variable. The
changes will be in the Dependent Variable.
It may be charts, graphs, or written work.
This shows WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!
Conclusion
Was your hypothesis correct?
What did you find the answer to the
question was?
What were the most interesting
observations?
It is OK if it turns out that your hypothesis
was not correct. You learned!!!!!!!!!
Communication - Report your findings
One of the most important parts of the
scientific method is to report to others your
findings.
You will help others learn.
Complete This Variables Practice
Variables Practice!
Read and highlight the important info in the following descriptions then use it to identify the variables.
Descriptions:
 Identify the independent variable. This is the variable that is actually being tested. It is the variable the
experimenter will manipulate and make different in order to see how it affects something. It is the
CAUSE of a change. If a researcher is measuring the effect of chocolate on happiness, the independent
variable is chocolate. Chocolate is what will be tested. Some people will get it and others won’t.
 Identifying the dependent variable. This is the EFFECT that is actually being measured in the
experiment – the result you are measuring to see if it changes in response to a change in the independent
variable. In the statement “a researcher is measuring the effect of chocolate on happiness”, the
dependent variable is happiness. Happiness depends on chocolate and is the result to be measured.
 Think of possible constant variables. These are all the other parts of an experiment that must remain the
same or “constant” in order to ensure a valid experiment. Only the independent variable should be
changed since it is the one being tested. In our chocolate example everything else they eat or their daily
activities should be constant so they don’t affect happiness as well.
For the following examples, identify the variables and control group.
Example 1
A class is studying the effect of sleep on hunger. They are thinking that less sleep will lead to more hunger.
They have some people sleep 6 hours per night, some people sleep 3 hours per night and some people sleep as
much as they normally do. They also monitor how much each group eats.
1) The dependent variable 2) The independent variable 3) The possible constant variables Example 2
A researcher is curious to find out what effect rock music has on people’s energy level (as measured by heart
rate). He suspects that listening to rock music will make people feel more energetic. He lets one group listen to
rock music for one hour. He lets another group sit in a quiet room with no music for one hour. After one hour,
he monitors the heart rate of each participant to measure their level of excitement.
1) The dependent variable 2) The independent variable 3) The possible constant variables Example 3
A doctor conducts an experiment to find the effects of soda on people's weight. He divides his subjects into
three groups: in one group the participants drink one soda a week, in another they drink two sodas a week, and
in a third group the participants drink water. He then weighs each participant every week for six months.
1) The dependent variable 2) The independent variable 3) The possible constant variables -