SCIENTI

FIC

METHOD L

AB

REASONING IN SCIENCE (AND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS)

Scientific method- is the way scientists learn and study the world around them

Scientific method starts with asking a questions and then trying to come up with the answers

These questions need to be able to be answered by observing and gathering evidence, measureable in some way

Observations- gathering information by using your senses

Valid- truthful and confirmed, correct and accurate

EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE

Hypothesis- educated guess

Experiment must use controls that are quantitative (numbers, not emotions).

Science needs both the hypothesis and results to move forward.

Scientists examine the data and develop newer ideas.

Data- facts, figures, and evidence gathered through observations

This process leads to more observations and tweaking of the hypotheses. 

THE WHOLE PROCESSHypothesis- a statement that uses a observations to make a guess without experimental evidence

Theory- uses observations and has experimental evidence, flexible enough to be modified if new data/evidence introduced

Law- stands the test of time, without change, confirmed over and over, creates true predictions for different situations, is uniform and universal 

Models have some experimental validity or is a scientific concept that is only accurate under limited situations.

Models do not work or apply under all situations in all environments.

QUESTION 1: 

The scientific method was developed to help scientists organize the process of solving problems.

TrueFalse

TRUE• Scientific method is an objective step-by-

step way of looking at natural events• Use these methods and procedures to

explain and answer questions• Scientific method can be used to prove or

disprove statements made by others• Requires observable and quantifiable

evidence and data.

QUESTION 2: 

Which of these is not a step of the scientific method?

HypothesisExperimentConclusionPlagiary  

Plagiary• Start with a problem or question • Then develop a hypothesis that offers an answer

to the question• Develop and perform an experiment • Record your results• Analyze results and develop a conclusion that

answers the original question

QUESTION 3: 

Which of these words would you NOT associate with the scientific method?

DisorganizedOrganizedDataControl

Disorganized• The scientific method is an organized way to help

scientists (and everyone) solve problems• As you complete an experiment that tests

variables and has controls, you record data and results. 

QUESTION 4: 

A hypothesis is...

A Random ThoughtAn AnswerAn Educated GuessAn Experiment

An Educated Guess• A hypothesis is an educated guess that offers a

possible answer to a problem• An experiment is developed to prove the

accuracy of the hypothesis

QUESTION 5: 

Which of these would be called results?

Number of Fruit FliesCounting Fruit FliesSeeing Fruit Flies on an AppleWondering Why a Fruit Fly was Born

Number of Fruit Flies• The number of fruit flies would be the only

results. The other choices are all steps in the process (Hypothesis, Experiment, Observation). 

QUESTION 6: 

What do you do to test a hypothesis?

GuessCreate a Spreadsheet with DataPublish a Scientific PaperDesign an Experiment

Design an Experiment• Conduct a series of procedures to test any

hypothesis• Developed experiment uses variables (changing

factors) and controls (unchanging examples)

QUESTION 7: 

A control group is used as a comparison to the group where things (variables) are changing.

TrueFalse

TRUE• The control group is a group that is not

experimented on• The bread without water is the control group• They are used as a baseline or static group in the

experiment

QUESTION 8: An independent variable is a factor that changes because of procedures conducted on the dependent variable.

TrueFalse

FALSE• A dependent variable (responding variable) is a

factor that may change because of what is done to the independent variable (manipulated variable)

• independent variable (manipulated variable) is the variable you change on purpose

QUESTION 9: 

Experiments are usually conducted one time and by one team to speed up the scientific process.

TrueFalse

FALSE• Experiments are performed hundreds to times

before a scientific statement is accepted as a truth.

• The experiment would be performed using the same procedures

• To prove the hypothesis, the other testing team must be able to generate the same results. 

QUESTION 10: 

Experiments often test multiple variables.

TrueFalse

FALSE• Experiments test for one variable• If you have multiple variables you do not know

what caused the difference

LOGICAL REASONING

Arguments- statements

Logic shows the relationships between the parts of an idea and the whole idea (example if you understand how animals interact with each other then you are able to better understand the whole ecosystem)

Scientific method is a rational, logical thought process that is used to figure out facts and truths

All of the answers must be able to be proved

If multiple scientists do the experiment and the answer is different, someone did something wrong and everyone starts all over again.  

INDUCTIVE REASONING• It is in two parts:

1. Start with specifics and come up with a theory. That's deductive reasoning

2. When you apply it to new areas, it is inductive reasoning

• You organize data into categories based on what they have in common

• In inductive reasoning your conclusions have more information than the facts you use

• You start with dozens of observed examples, take a leap, and assume millions of possible examples

• If the conclusion is true, then new assumptions are true

OTHER VOCABULARY• Scientific inquiry- refers to the ways

scientists investigate the world and explain them based on evidence they gather

• Variables- factors that can change in an experiment

• Controlled experiment- only one variable is manipulated

• Manipulated variable- independent variable

• Responding variable- dependent variable

• Control- the group that is not manipulated or changed

• Operational definition- a statement that describes how to measure a variable or define a term

• Communicating- sharing of ideas and findings through writings or speaking