SCIENTIFIC METHOD• The scientific method is a series

of steps and a thought process used to solve problems.

• Scientific Method is used every day by all sorts of people…not just scientists!

• There are 6 steps to completion of the scientific method.

Step #1.

• 1. Purpose

• - What do you want to learn?? What is the problem?

• This may begin with asking a question.

• Ex: What is the disease-causing agent?

Step #2.• 2. Research/Collecting Data.

• Observing

• Measuring

• Sampling

• Organizing data

Step #3.• 3. Hypothesis• An educated guess

• CAN BE TESTED!!!

• Can be supported or not supported….never true or false.

• Written in the “if-then” form.

Examples of “If-then” form

• If detergents were to be tested, then ERA would clean the best.

• If mice are subjected to microwaves, then they will have a shorter life span.

• If the virus were the true disease-causing agent, then introducing the virus into healthy tissue would cause cell death.

Step #4.

• 4. Experiment• Process of testing hypothesis by

gathering data under controlled conditions

Parts of an experiment

• Variables = things that change• Independent variable - manipulated by the

experimenter.• Example…amount of dog food• Dependent variable-it is dependent on the

independent variable. It RESPONDS to the experiment.

• Example…weight of dog

Parts of experiment continued…

•Control - What you compare to….a standard.

•Constant - Something that never changes. Variables should be the only thing that is different…everything else should be held constant!

•Theory = suggested EXPLANATION.

Step #5.

• 5. Analysis

• Collecting and organizing data from the experiment

• Graphs

• Models

Step #6

• 6. Conclusion• Stating whether the hypothesis was

supported or not supported

• Sum up the experiment

GRAPHING

There are rules & guidelines to graphing.

•You must always title your graph.

•You must always label the x & y axis including the measurements!

•The independent variable always goes on the x-axis.

•The dependent variable always goes on the y-axis.

•You must always mark the #’s in equal step intervals.

•Make straight/accurate lines. Be neat!

GOOD BAD

We will be making LINE graphs. You will plot the points and then connect them with a straight line.

LINE graph = find the relationship between two variables.BAR = show a #PIE = show %

When making a graph, make sure you use all available space and make the line take up the size of the graph.

Go to the following link for some exapmles:http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/courses/ci330ms/youtsey/lineinfo.html