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Scientific Scientific Method Method

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Page 1: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Page 2: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Steps in the Scientific Steps in the Scientific MethodMethod

ObservationObservation Identify the Identify the

ProblemProblem HypothesisHypothesis Gather informationGather information ExperimentExperiment Organize DataOrganize Data ConclusionConclusion CommunicationCommunication

Page 3: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

1. Observations1. Observations Gathered Gathered

through through your your sensessenses

A scientist A scientist notices notices something something in their in their natural natural worldworld

Page 4: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

ObservationsObservations

An An exampleexample of of an observationan observation might be might be noticing that noticing that many many salamanders salamanders near a pond near a pond have curved, not have curved, not straight, tailsstraight, tails

Page 5: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

2. Identify a Problem2. Identify a Problem Ask a Ask a

questionquestion about the about the observation observation you made.you made.

State it State it clearlyclearly and as and as a questiona question

Page 6: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Identify the ProblemIdentify the Problem

Example:Example: Why Why do salamanders do salamanders living near a living near a pond have pond have curved tails?curved tails?

Page 7: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

3. Hypothesis3. Hypothesis A A suggested suggested

solutionsolution to the to the problem.problem.

State what you State what you thinkthink will will happenhappen

Must be Must be testabletestable

PredictsPredicts an an outcomeoutcome

Page 8: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

HypothesisHypothesis

An An example of a example of a hypothesishypothesis might might be that the be that the salamanders salamanders have curved tails have curved tails due to a due to a pollutant in the pollutant in the moist soil where moist soil where they live. they live.

Page 9: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

4. Gather information4. Gather information ResearchResearch

your topicyour topic DiscoverDiscover

what is what is already already known about known about the topicthe topic

Page 10: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

5. Experiment5. Experiment

A A procedure procedure to to testtest the the hypothesishypothesis

..

Page 11: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

ExperimentExperiment

VariableVariable – – factor in the factor in the experiment experiment that is being that is being testedtested

Page 12: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

ExperimentExperiment

A good or A good or “valid” “valid” experiment experiment will only will only have have ONE ONE variable!variable!

Page 13: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Scientific Experiments Scientific Experiments Follow RulesFollow Rules

An experimenter changes one factor and observes or measures what happens.

Page 14: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

VariablesVariables The factor that is The factor that is

changed is known as the changed is known as the independent variableindependent variable. .

The factor that is measured The factor that is measured or observed is called the or observed is called the dependent variable. dependent variable.

Page 15: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

VariablesVariables Independent Variable Independent Variable – –

Pollution is added to an area Pollution is added to an area near a population of near a population of salamanders with straight salamanders with straight tailstails

Dependent Variable Dependent Variable – the tails – the tails of the salamanders are of the salamanders are observedobserved

Page 16: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

The Control VariableThe Control Variable The experimenter makes a The experimenter makes a

special effort to keep special effort to keep other factors constantother factors constant so so that they will not effect that they will not effect the outcome.the outcome.

Those factors are called Those factors are called control variables.control variables.

Page 17: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

What is theWhat is the Purpose of a Control? Purpose of a Control? Controls are Controls are NOTNOT being tested being tested Controls are used for Controls are used for

COMPARISONCOMPARISON Compare the control group Compare the control group

with the experimental group with the experimental group (the one you are testing)(the one you are testing)

Page 18: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

What is theWhat is the Purpose of a Control? Purpose of a Control?

Control Group Control Group – – salamanders with straight salamanders with straight tails living normallytails living normally

Experimental Group Experimental Group – – salamanders with straight salamanders with straight tails and added pollution tails and added pollution in the soilin the soil

Page 19: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Another ExampleAnother Example For example, suppose you want to

figure out the fastest route to walk home from school.

You will try several different routes and time how long it takes you to get home by each one.

Since you are only interested in finding a route that is fastest for you, you will do the walking yourself.

Page 20: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Another ExampleAnother Example

Varying the route is the Varying the route is the independent variableindependent variable

The time it takes is the The time it takes is the dependent variabledependent variable

Keeping the same walker Keeping the same walker throughout makes the throughout makes the walker a walker a control variable.control variable.

Page 21: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

One more thing… it is best to make several trials with each independent variable.

Page 22: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Remember! To be a Remember! To be a Valid Experiment:Valid Experiment:

Two groups are required --- the control & experimental groups

There should be only one variable you are testing

Page 23: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

6. Organize Data6. Organize Data ResultsResults of the of the

experimentexperiment May be May be

quantitativequantitative (numbers) or (numbers) or qualitative qualitative (observations)(observations)

Page 24: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Organize DataOrganize Data Must beMust be

organized organized to to find out what it find out what it meansmeans

Can be Can be organized into organized into charts, tables, charts, tables, or graphsor graphs

Page 25: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

7. Conclusion7. Conclusion Explain the data

that you collected from the experiment

Does it support your hypothesis?

Should anything else be done?

Page 26: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

8. Communicate the 8. Communicate the resultsresults

Don’t be Don’t be greedy!greedy!

Let others Let others know what know what you learned you learned so that so that progress can progress can be madebe made

Page 27: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Scientific MethodScientific Method1) Make observations2) Identify a Problem3) Form a Hypothesis

about the problem 4) Research and gather

information 5) Design an Experiment

to test the hypothesis6) Organize Data7) Form a Conclusion8) Communicate the

results

Page 28: Scientific Method. Steps in the Scientific Method Observation Observation Identify the Problem Identify the Problem Hypothesis Hypothesis Gather information

Quiz!Quiz! In your In your notebooksnotebooks reflect on reflect on

the following:the following: What are the What are the 8 steps 8 steps to the to the

scientific method:scientific method: What is the scientific method What is the scientific method

used for?used for?