Scientific Method

Steps of the Scientific Method

• 1. Question

• 2. Research

• 3. Hypothesis

• 4. Procedures/Materials

• 5. Analysis/results

• 6. Conclusion

1. Question• What is your question you are trying to solve.

Question should be testable, detailed, and should start with:

– Will– If– Does– Can– What

• Must be testable in the classroom.– Can it be brought into the classroom?– Is it too dangerous for the classroom?

What is a variable?

It is what you are testing.

It is the one and ONLY thing you change in your experiment.

What is a control?

• There are many controls.

• Controls are all the things you keep the SAME in an experiment to keep it fair.

2. Research:

• Gather data that will help you answer this question from different sources:

– Library– Internet– Specialists– Observing– Talk to people

3. Hypothesis:

• After doing research, you now can make an educated guess to what you think might be the answer to your question.

• It is okay if your hypothesis is wrong.

• A good hypothesis answers the project question and then supports it with the research you have done.

• I infer that ____________________________.

• This hypothesis is based on the fact that in my research, I discovered that _______________.

• So my hypothesis is, if ___________________ then ________________.

Sample Hypothesis:

4. Plan your experiment and get your materials:

• Write down step by step instructions on what you plan to do to prove your hypothesis is correct.

• Also write down what materials you will need.

5. Analysis/results of experiment:

• Write down what happened in your experiment.

• This step would include charts, graphs, tables as well as words to describe what happened.

6. Conclusion:

• This is your final write up about your experiment.

• You include a brief explanation of your ENTIRE experiment.