scientific method notes & quiz

Science FairScience Fair

What is a science fair What is a science fair project?project?

A science project is an A science project is an investigation using the investigation using the scientific method to scientific method to discover the answer to discover the answer to a scientific problem. a scientific problem.

• A science project is like a mystery in which you are the detective searching for answers.

What is the Scientific What is the Scientific Method?Method?

The scientific method is the "tool" The scientific method is the "tool" that scientists use to find the that scientists use to find the answers to questions. answers to questions.

It is the process of thinking through It is the process of thinking through the possible solutions to a problem the possible solutions to a problem and testing each possibility to find and testing each possibility to find the best solution. the best solution.

The Scientific Method The Scientific Method includes:includes:

Researching a question, Researching a question, Stating a problem, Stating a problem, Forming a hypothesis, Forming a hypothesis, Creating an experiment to test your Creating an experiment to test your

hypothesis, and hypothesis, and Reaching a conclusion.Reaching a conclusion.

Let’s look closer at each part of the scientific method!

RESEARCHRESEARCHTOPIC RESEARCHTOPIC RESEARCH

Your first research Your first research is used to select a is used to select a project topic. project topic.

Collect ideas from Collect ideas from your surroundings, your surroundings, from favorite from favorite science topics, and science topics, and from your own from your own experiences.experiences.

PROJECT RESEARCHPROJECT RESEARCH After you have selected After you have selected

a topic, you begin what a topic, you begin what is called project is called project research.research.

This is research to help This is research to help you understand the you understand the topic, express a topic, express a problem, propose a problem, propose a hypothesis, and design hypothesis, and design one or more project one or more project experiments—experiments—experiments designed to experiments designed to test the hypothesis. test the hypothesis.

STATE THE PROBLEMSTATE THE PROBLEM The problem is the scientific question The problem is the scientific question

to be solved.to be solved. It is best expressed as an "open-It is best expressed as an "open-

ended" question, which is a question ended" question, which is a question that is answered with a statement, that is answered with a statement, not just a yes or a no. not just a yes or a no.

Ex. "How does light affect the reproduction of bread mold on white

bread?“

Guidelines for Stating the Guidelines for Stating the Problem:Problem:

DO Limit Your Problem.DO Limit Your Problem. This question is about one life process of This question is about one life process of

molds—reproduction; one type of mold—molds—reproduction; one type of mold—bread mold; one type of bread—white bread; bread mold; one type of bread—white bread; and one factor that affects its growth—light. and one factor that affects its growth—light.

To find the answer to a question such as To find the answer to a question such as "How does light affect molds?" would require "How does light affect molds?" would require that you test different life processes and an that you test different life processes and an many types of molds. many types of molds.

Guideline for Stating the Guideline for Stating the Problem:Problem:

DoDo choose a problem that can be solved choose a problem that can be solved experimentally.experimentally.

For example, the question "What is a For example, the question "What is a mold?" can be answered by finding the mold?" can be answered by finding the definition of the word definition of the word moldmold in the in the dictionary. dictionary.

But, "At room temperature, what is the But, "At room temperature, what is the growth rate of bread mold on white growth rate of bread mold on white bread?" is a question that can be answered bread?" is a question that can be answered by experimentation. by experimentation.

Forming a HypothesisForming a Hypothesis A hypothesis is an idea about the A hypothesis is an idea about the

solution to a problem, based on solution to a problem, based on knowledge and research. knowledge and research.

All of your project experimenting will All of your project experimenting will be performed to test the hypothesis. be performed to test the hypothesis.

The hypothesis should make a claim The hypothesis should make a claim about how two factors relate. about how two factors relate.

Example HypothesisExample Hypothesis"I believe that bread mold does not need "I believe that bread mold does not need

light for reproduction on white bread. I light for reproduction on white bread. I base my hypothesis on these facts: base my hypothesis on these facts: – Organisms with chlorophyll need light to Organisms with chlorophyll need light to

survive. Molds do not have chlorophyll. survive. Molds do not have chlorophyll. – In my exploratory experiment, bread mold In my exploratory experiment, bread mold

grew on white bread kept in a dark bread grew on white bread kept in a dark bread box." box."

For this example, the two relating factors are light and bread mold growth.

Guidelines for a HypothesisGuidelines for a Hypothesis DoDo state facts from past experiences or state facts from past experiences or

observations on which you base your observations on which you base your hypothesis. hypothesis.

DoDo write down your hypothesis before write down your hypothesis before beginning the project experimentation. beginning the project experimentation.

Don'tDon't change your hypothesis even if change your hypothesis even if experimentation does not support it. If experimentation does not support it. If time permits, repeat or redesign the time permits, repeat or redesign the experiment to confirm your results. experiment to confirm your results.

The Project ExperimentThe Project Experiment The purpose of the experiment is to The purpose of the experiment is to

test your hypothesis.test your hypothesis. The things that have an effect on the The things that have an effect on the

experiment are called experiment are called variablesvariables. . There are three kinds of variables There are three kinds of variables

that you need to identify in your that you need to identify in your experiments: independent, experiments: independent, dependent, and controlled. dependent, and controlled.

Types of Variables in an Types of Variables in an ExperimentExperiment

The The independent variableindependent variable is the is the variable you purposely change. variable you purposely change.

The The dependent variabledependent variable is the is the variable that is being observed, variable that is being observed, which changes in response to the which changes in response to the independent variable. independent variable.

The variables that are not changed The variables that are not changed are called are called controlled variablescontrolled variables..

Example Project ExperimentExample Project ExperimentThe problem is the effect of light on The problem is the effect of light on

the reproduction of bread mold. the reproduction of bread mold. The The independent variableindependent variable for the for the

experiment is light.experiment is light. The The dependent variabledependent variable is bread is bread

mold reproduction. mold reproduction. Factors that are identical in both the Factors that are identical in both the

experimental setup and the control experimental setup and the control setup are the setup are the controlled variablescontrolled variables. .

ProcedureProcedure The procedure is the step-by-step The procedure is the step-by-step

directions on how you did your directions on how you did your experiment. experiment.

The directions must be specific The directions must be specific enough that another person could enough that another person could repeat your experiment.repeat your experiment.

Example ProcedureExample Procedure1.1. Place 3 or 4 loaves of white bread in cardboard Place 3 or 4 loaves of white bread in cardboard

boxes the size of a bread box, one loaf per box.boxes the size of a bread box, one loaf per box.2.2. Close the boxes so that they receive no light. Close the boxes so that they receive no light. 3.3. If, at the end of a set time period, the mold grows, If, at the end of a set time period, the mold grows,

you might decide that no light was needed for mold you might decide that no light was needed for mold reproduction. reproduction.

4.4. To test if mold grows with light place an equal To test if mold grows with light place an equal number of loaves in comparable-size boxes, but number of loaves in comparable-size boxes, but leave them open. leave them open.

5.5. To measure the amount of mold growth, you might To measure the amount of mold growth, you might draw 1-cm squares on a transparent sheet of plastic.draw 1-cm squares on a transparent sheet of plastic.

6.6. Place the plastic over each loaf of bread, and count Place the plastic over each loaf of bread, and count the number of squares with mold growth.the number of squares with mold growth.

Guidelines for the Guidelines for the ExperimentExperiment

DoDo have only one independent have only one independent variable during an experiment. variable during an experiment.

DoDo repeat the experiment more than repeat the experiment more than once to verify your results. once to verify your results.

DoDo have a control. have a control. DoDo have more than one control, with have more than one control, with

each being identical. each being identical. DoDo organize data. organize data.

ConclusionConclusion The project conclusion is a summary The project conclusion is a summary

of the results of the project of the results of the project experimentation and,experimentation and,

A statement of how the results relate A statement of how the results relate to the hypothesis. to the hypothesis.

Guidelines for Writing a Guidelines for Writing a ConclusionConclusion

Don'tDon't change your hypothesis if your change your hypothesis if your results did not support it.results did not support it.

Don'tDon't leave out experimental results leave out experimental results that do not support your hypothesis. that do not support your hypothesis.

DoDo give possible reasons for the give possible reasons for the difference between your hypothesis difference between your hypothesis and the experimental results. and the experimental results.

DoDo give ways that you can give ways that you can experiment further to find a solution. experiment further to find a solution.

Scientific MethodScientific MethodQuizQuiz

True or False?True or False?

1. All science projects 1. All science projects start with a testable start with a testable question that you question that you already know the already know the answer to.answer to.


2. State your topic as 2. State your topic as an “open-ended” an “open-ended” question, and not one question, and not one that can be answered that can be answered with a yes or no.with a yes or no.


3. Project research 3. Project research will help you will help you narrow down your narrow down your question.question.


4. Try not to look at 4. Try not to look at too many resources too many resources for information on for information on your topic since it your topic since it might confuse you.might confuse you.


5. A hypothesis is 5. A hypothesis is any factor that can any factor that can change in an change in an experiment.experiment.


6. Plan an 6. Plan an experiment that experiment that will prove your will prove your hypothesis wrong.hypothesis wrong.


7. Make sure to test 7. Make sure to test many different many different variables in your variables in your experiment.experiment.


8. When recording 8. When recording measurements, use measurements, use your best estimate and your best estimate and don’t bother with any don’t bother with any special tools like rulers, special tools like rulers, scales, or stopwatches. scales, or stopwatches.

True or False?True or False?9. To make the job of 9. To make the job of

planning an experiment planning an experiment easier, gather the easier, gather the materials first then list materials first then list each item.each item.


10. It is important to 10. It is important to use the correct use the correct tools when tools when collecting data.collecting data.


11. The more trials 11. The more trials you do, the more you do, the more you can trust the you can trust the data that you data that you collect.collect.


12. Write down the 12. Write down the data on any old data on any old piece of paper you piece of paper you can find before you can find before you forget it.forget it.


13. Record data on 13. Record data on graphs so you can graphs so you can easily look for easily look for patterns.patterns.


14. In your 14. In your conclusion, conclusion, compare your compare your results with your results with your hypothesis.hypothesis.


15. After you’ve written 15. After you’ve written your conclusion, take a your conclusion, take a nap and never think nap and never think about this topic again.about this topic again.