Scientific

Method How to solve problems in Science

Scientific Method

Does this sound familiar?

Where are My Shoes?

What should I have for lunch?

What class do I have next?

Did I do my homework for that class?

What is the cure for cancer?

Which deodorant works the longest?

Scientific Method Definition: A way to describe the steps of explaining a

scientific problem.

Note: there are several ways to explain the scientific

method. All methods use the overall process of

scientific investigation.

Let’s talk about the steps…

Problem/Question – Research – Hypothesis –

Experiment - Results/Analysis – Conclusion -

Communication

Scientific Method

Problem/Question/Purpose

Problem – The focus question posed.

The BIG IDEA!

Examples – How did the children

become infected with salmonella?

Why did the plant die?

Why are my neighbor’s tomato plants

so healthy and tall?

Research/Background Knowledge

Research/Background

Investigate the problem.

Make observations and inferences and

gather information related to your

problem that would help you form a

hypothesis.

Hypothesis A possible explanation for a set of

observations or an answer to a scientific question.

A hypothesis should be:

A statement

Backed by information or research

TESTABLE!

Example: Tomato plants with Miracle Grow (a fertilizer) will grow two times faster than tomato plants without.

The Experiment

Testing the hypothesis

An experiment includes:

Materials- the items used in the

experiment

Procedure – the steps you take in the

experiment

Variables – factors that change in an

experiment

Results/Analysis

Recording the observations and data of

the experiment and arranging the results

in an organized way.

Examples – tables, graphs (bar, line,

etc), qualitative observations and

quantitative observations

Conclusion Does the data support the hypothesis? If

so the hypothesis is supported. If not, it is rejected.

A conclusion is a detailed explanation, not just a sentence or two. It explains the data and infers why you got the results that you did.

This is where any ERRORS are mentioned. There are always errors!

A hypothesis can never be proven true, just supported.

Communication

This step is necessary in science so that

the scientific community knows the

findings as well.

This can be a lab report, an article in

a scientific journal, scientific

meetings, etc.

Flowchart for

Scientific

Method

Research

Conclusion

Results

Problem

Experiment

Hypothesis

Flowchart for Scientific Method

Hypothesis

supported

Hypothesis

rejected

Communication

of

Results

Conclusion

Try Again

Is the Scientific

Method a Cycle? Or

does it end with the

last step?