The Scientific Method

What is it, and how can it be used?

The Scientific Method

It’s a series of organized steps someone takes in order to solve a problem.

Scientists use it to help them think logically when they are investigating a question or problem.

They break the problem into a series of steps that make sense.

The Scientific Method

Steps of the Scientific Method 1. Observe surroundings; this involves the

gathering of information

qualitative observations: words (i.e. color, shape, texture, odor, etc)

quantitative observations: numbers (i.e. temperature, volume, mass, height)

2. Identify a problem or form a question based on previous observations.

Steps of the Scientific Method

3. Form hypothesis to tentatively explain observations. Hypothesis must be:

Testable

Refutable (able to be proved wrong)

A hypothesis is an “educated” prediction that must be testable!

Steps of the Scientific Method 4. Conduct experiment. Experiment must have:

independent variable: AKA the manipulated variable since it is the variable you are manipulating/ influencing

dependent variable: AKA the responding

variable since it is the variable that depends/responds according to how the independent variable changes

control: this is a condition that serves as

a standard for comparison; it does not have the variable being tested for

Control Group Vs. Experimental Group

Draw samples from some aspect of nature.

CONTROL GROUP The variable being tested is absent

EXPERIMENTAL GROUP The variable being tested is present

Compare and analyze the test results.

Report on experimental design, test results, and conclusions drawn from results.

Steps of the Scientific Method

5. Collect data and make observations during the course of the experiment.

quantitative data: numerical info (i.e.

temperature, mass, volume, density, height, etc)

qualitative data: words to describe (i.e. color, odor, texture, shape, etc)

6. Draw conclusions based on data and

either prove hypothesis true or false.

Steps of the Scientific Method 7. If hypothesis is repeatedly found to be

true after lots of experimentation, and the same results are found time after time, a theory is then developed.

theory: a highly successful

hypothesis that tentatively explains why natural phenomena occur (i.e. theory of evolution, atomic theory)

law: a relationship that describes

something that is known to occur without exception (i.e. gravity on Earth)

start here

You might see the scientific method “expressed” different ways, but it basically involves the same steps!

The Scientific Method is a logical, step-by-step

process to solve a problem –

no matter how you say it!

How will the scientific data collected during an

experiment be communicated to others so

that they can try to repeat the experiment?

Graphs: a visual display of data often used to discover relationships between

the independent and dependent variable.

Bar Graph

Circle Graph (AKA: pie chart)

Solubility Curve for Salts

Line Graph

Components of a Well-Made Graph

Descriptive Title Labels for both axes with units

independent variable = x-axis (horizontal) dependent variable = y-axis (vertical)

Appropriate scale not too small or graph won’t fit on the

page not too big or graph won’t fill the page

Key/Legend (if needed) Best Fit Line (if needed)