1.1. Problem or QuestionProblem or Question

2.2. ResearchResearch

3.3. HypothesisHypothesis

4.4. ProcedureProcedure

5.5. ObservationsObservations

6.6. DataData

7.7. ConclusionConclusion

A possible explanation for A possible explanation for observations that relate to a observations that relate to a scientific questionscientific question

Must be testable by observation Must be testable by observation or experimentor experiment

It is a Scientific “Guess”It is a Scientific “Guess” Example: I think that if I water Example: I think that if I water

the plant everyday it will grow.the plant everyday it will grow.

Uses all five sensesUses all five sensesSightSightHearingHearingTouchTouchSmellSmellTasteTaste

You use all five of these You use all five of these to gather informationto gather information

ObservatioObservations and ns and measurememeasurements nts recorded recorded during an during an experiment experiment

Factors that can Factors that can CHANGECHANGE during an experimentduring an experiment

3 Types of Variables3 Types of VariablesControllingControllingResponding Responding ManipulatedManipulated

The variable that stays the The variable that stays the SAMESAME Example:Example: You have two plants You have two plants

that are both in the same pot, that are both in the same pot, with the same amount of soil, the with the same amount of soil, the same amount of seeds and have same amount of seeds and have the same amount of water. You the same amount of water. You place one in front of the window place one in front of the window and the other in a closet. After and the other in a closet. After two weeks you measure to see the two weeks you measure to see the growth of each of the plants.growth of each of the plants.

The variable that the scientist The variable that the scientist CHANGESCHANGES Independent variable, Found on the x-Independent variable, Found on the x-

axisaxis Example:Example: You have two plants that are You have two plants that are

both in the same pot, with the same both in the same pot, with the same amount of soil, the same amount of amount of soil, the same amount of seeds and have the same amount of seeds and have the same amount of water. You place one in front of the water. You place one in front of the window and the other in a closet. After window and the other in a closet. After two weeks you measure to see the growth two weeks you measure to see the growth of each of the plants.of each of the plants.

The variable that the scientist The variable that the scientist MeasuresMeasures Dependent variable, found on the y-axisDependent variable, found on the y-axis Example:Example: You have two plants that are You have two plants that are

both in the same pot, with the same both in the same pot, with the same amount of soil, the same amount of amount of soil, the same amount of seeds and have the same amount of seeds and have the same amount of water. You place one in front of the water. You place one in front of the window and the other in a closet. After window and the other in a closet. After two weeks you measure to see the two weeks you measure to see the growth of each of the plants.growth of each of the plants.

The control or control group is The control or control group is used to compare your used to compare your experimental results. It is the experimental results. It is the group or item that the scientist group or item that the scientist does nothing to. does nothing to.

Example –Example – test 2 types of car test 2 types of car wax. You wax two spots on the wax. You wax two spots on the car and leave one spot car and leave one spot unchanged (no wax is applied).unchanged (no wax is applied).

Students of different Students of different ages were given the ages were given the same jigsaw puzzle to same jigsaw puzzle to put together. They put together. They were timed to see how were timed to see how long it took to finish long it took to finish the puzzle.the puzzle.

Ages of the Ages of the studentsstudents

Different ages Different ages were tested by were tested by the scientistthe scientist

The time it took to put The time it took to put the puzzle togetherthe puzzle together

The time was observed The time was observed and measured by the and measured by the scientistscientist

Same puzzleSame puzzleAll of the participants were All of the participants were tested with the same puzzle.tested with the same puzzle.

It would not have been a fair It would not have been a fair test if some had an easy 30 test if some had an easy 30 piece puzzle and some had a piece puzzle and some had a harder 500 piece puzzle.harder 500 piece puzzle.

An investigation was done An investigation was done with an electromagnetic with an electromagnetic system made from a battery system made from a battery and wire wrapped around a and wire wrapped around a nail. Different sizes of nails nail. Different sizes of nails were used. The number of were used. The number of paper clips the paper clips the electromagnet could pick up electromagnet could pick up was measured.was measured.

Battery, wire, type of Battery, wire, type of nailnail

None of these items None of these items were changedwere changed

Sizes of nailsSizes of nailsThese were These were changed by the changed by the scientistscientist

Number of paper clips Number of paper clips picked uppicked up

The number of paper The number of paper clips observed and clips observed and counted (measured) counted (measured)

There are many different ways to There are many different ways to organize the data into your organize the data into your resultsresults

Bar GraphBar Graph Data TableData Table Line GraphLine Graph Circle GraphCircle Graph

Compare Hypothesis to the DataCompare Hypothesis to the Data How to begin….How to begin….

According to my data, my According to my data, my hypothesis washypothesis was right or wrong right or wrong becausebecause…. …. I think this I think this happened becausehappened because….….If I were to If I were to do this experiment again I do this experiment again I wouldwould…..…..

A statement that A statement that describes what describes what scientists expect to scientists expect to happen happen EVERYEVERY time time under a particular under a particular set of conditions.set of conditions.

Example:Example: Law of Law of gravitygravity …what goes …what goes up will come down…up will come down…(happens every time)(happens every time)

A well-tested idea that explains A well-tested idea that explains and connects a wide range of and connects a wide range of observations.observations.

Can be changed because of new Can be changed because of new evidenceevidence

Example:Example: My theory is that My theory is that everyone in this class will get everyone in this class will get an A+ on their first testan A+ on their first test