The Scientific MethodOr

How to think

like a Scientist

Steps of the Scientific Method

• State the Problem

• Gather Data

• State Hypothesis

• Test the Hypothesis

• Conclusion

STATE THE PROBLEM

• In your own words, describe what you wish to find out .

GATHER DATA

• Research the problem so that you can state a hypothesis, which is an educated guess.

STATE the HYPOTHESIS

• A statement of a probable solution to your problem.

• This is an

“if- then” statement.

TESTING the HYPOTHESIS

• Design an experiment to provide accurate data to test your hypothesis.

Experimentation• To test the hypothesis,

an experiment is performed.

• An experiment has two parts, the control and the variable.

Parts of the experiment

Control• The part of the

experiment that does not change.

Variable• The part of the

experiment that changes.

• You only have ONE variable.

Observation• Observations are recorded facts about what

you see.–vs. inference

• There are two types of

observations.

–Quantitative

–Qualitative

Observation

Quantitative• Results in a numerical form,

with a unit.

Qualitative• Results in a descriptive form.

Types of Properties

• Extensive Property – depends on the amount of matter.

• Examples: volume, mass, amount of energy in a substance.

• Intensive Property – DOES NOT depend on the amount of matter.

• Examples: density, heat and electricity conduction, boiling point, etc.

? ? ? ? ? ?Was it right? ? ? ? ? ?

SUPER

• State your conclusion.

YES!!!!!!

? ? ? ? ? ?Was it right? ? ? ? ? ?

Restate your hypothesis and

start again.

NO!!!!!!

CONCLUSION

• A brief statement about the results of the experiment(s).

• Communicates what was found.

• States whether the hypothesis was correct or incorrect.

Theories and Laws

Theory• Thoroughly tested model

that explains observations.

Theories and Laws

Law• A concise statement that

describes a large number of situations is called a law.

• Does not answer WHY!