Scientific Method IScientific Method II. Steps In Scientific Method

I. Observation/ProblemII. HypothesisIII. ExperimentIV. Data CollectionV. ConclusionVI. Retest Theory

II. Observation/ProblemI. Must be testableII. Ex. Are Canaries prettier than blue birds? Not

Testable!!III. In the form of a sentenceIV. Ex. Do bean seeds grow faster when fed

compost or fertilizer?III. Hypothesis

I. Must be testableII. Answers the observation ? and predicts an

outcome of the experiment.III. If…..independent variable, then ….dependent

variableIV. Ex. If given compost, then bean plants will

grow faster than those given fertilizerIV. Experiment

I. Set of procedures to test a hypothesisII. Must be numberedIII. No Pronouns (I, he, she…etc.)

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Scientific Method Scientific Method IIII

13

I. Data CollectionI. Control Group

I. Group not exposed to variable being testedused for comparison

II. Ex. Plant 1 is not given compost or fertilizer

II. Experimental GroupI. Group exposed to variable being testedII. Ex. Plant 2 is given fertilizer and Plant 3

is given compostIII. Independent Variable

I. Factor being changedII. Always on the x-axisIII. Ex. Plant 1, Plant 2, Plant 3

IV. Dependent VariableI. Factor that is measured/observedII. Always on the y-axisIII. Ex. Plant growth

V. Either qualitative (pictures) or quantitative (numbers)

VI. Data organized in charts and graphs

Scientific Method Scientific Method IIIIII

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I. Data Collection

I. ChartsI. Must have both independent and

dependent variablesII. Must have Title

Plant A Plant B (fert) Plant C (comp)Day 10 1 cm 2 cm 3 cmDay 20 2 cm 3 cm 4 cmDay 30 3 cm 4 cm 5 cmDay 40 4 cm 5 cm 6 cmDay 50 5 cm 6 cm 7 cm

Amount of Growth (aka Dependent Variable)

Independent Variables

Plant Growth Over Time

Scientific Method IIIScientific Method III

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I. Data CollectionI. Graphs

I. X-axis independent variable and Y-axis dependent variable

II. Line Graph I. Used to show changes in dependent

variable (plant growth) over time.II. Must have title, x-axis title (with units)

and y-axis title (with units)

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55

0

1

2

3

4

5

6Growth of Plant A Over Time

Time (Days)

Pla

nt

Heig

ht

(cm

)

Scientific Method Scientific Method IIIIII

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III. Multiple Line Graph I. Used when measuring several

different dependent variables II. To show how they change relative to

one another.III. Must have titles and legend

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Growth of Bean Plants over Time

Plant A (Control)

Plant B (Fertilizer Added)

Plant C (Compost Added)

Time (Days)

Pla

nt H

eig

ht (c

m)

Scientific Method IIIScientific Method III

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IV. Bar Graph I. Use it when a set of measurements

can be split into discrete and comparable groups

II. To show the relative change between these groups.

III. Must have titles and legend

0

1

2

3

4

5

6Average Plant Growth over 50

Days

Plant A (Control)

Plant B (Fertilizer Added)

Plant C (Compost Added)

Plant A Plant B Plant C

Avera

ge G

row

th in

Centim

ete

rs

Scientific Method Scientific Method IIIIII

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V. Multiple Bar GraphsI. Use it to separate the dependent

variable within each group and II. Demonstrate its exact variation

among them.III. Must have titles and legend

Day 10 Day 20 Day 30 Day 40 Day 50

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8Plant Growth Over Time

Plant APlant BPlant C

Time (Days)

Heig

ht

(cm

)

Scientific Method IIIScientific Method III

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VI. Pie GraphI. When showing parts of a whole..i.e.

percentagesII. Must have a title and a legend

Percentage of Colors in a Skittles Bag

Red

Orange

Green

Yellow

Purple

Scientific Method Scientific Method IVIV

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I. ConclusionI. Claim

I. Restate your hypothesisII. Ex. If given compost, then bean plants

will grow taller than those given fertilizer. II. Evidence

I. Accept or reject your hypothesisII. Use the numbers from your chart and

graph to explain why.III. Plant C which was given only compost

grew to a maximum height of 5 cm, Plant B which was given fertilizer grew to a maximum height of 4cm and Plant A which was given nothing at all grew to a maximum height of 3cm. Therefore, the hypothesis is accepted.

III. ReasoningI. Scientifically explain WHY what

happened occurred.II. Fertilizer contains only trace elements

such as phosphorous, nitrogen and sulphur while compost contains decaying matter which can provide many complex organic nutrients for a bean plant. Therefore, the plant treated with compost grows taller.

Scientific Method Scientific Method IVIV

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I. RetestI. Verify resultsII. Creation of Theory

II. ReviewI. Observation/ProblemII. HypothesisIII. ExperimentIV. Data CollectionV. ConclusionVI. Retest Theory