The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

What is it?What is it?

What steps do scientists use to conduct What steps do scientists use to conduct experiments?experiments?

Thinking like a scientist…Thinking like a scientist…

Observe!Observe! Use your senses to gather Use your senses to gather information.information.

Infer!Infer! Try to explain the things that you Try to explain the things that you have observed in a reasonable way.have observed in a reasonable way.

Predict!Predict! Make a guess of what will happen Make a guess of what will happen that is based on experiences and/or that is based on experiences and/or evidence.evidence.

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific MethodThe scientific method is process that is used The scientific method is process that is used

to find answers to questions about the to find answers to questions about the world around us.world around us.

There is not just ONE method to follow, but There is not just ONE method to follow, but different ways to think and solve different ways to think and solve

problems…problems…

We are learning 1 way today in class…We are learning 1 way today in class…

Step 1: Step 1: PURPOSEPURPOSE

State the questions or problems that have State the questions or problems that have come from observations and inferences, or come from observations and inferences, or maybe just from your curiosity.maybe just from your curiosity.

The problem or purpose is the The problem or purpose is the reasonreason you you are performing the experiment.are performing the experiment.

Class Purpose example:Class Purpose example:

What is the class’s favorite _______?What is the class’s favorite _______?

Which college football team is going to win Which college football team is going to win the championship this year?the championship this year?

How many licks does it take to get to the How many licks does it take to get to the center of the Tootsie Roll Pop? center of the Tootsie Roll Pop?

Step 2: Step 2: RESEARCHRESEARCH Gather info using your sensesGather info using your senses

Question what you know, facts, etcQuestion what you know, facts, etc

Think about how to test your Think about how to test your problem/purposeproblem/purpose

Could do actual research online, using a Could do actual research online, using a book, or an expertbook, or an expert

Class Research example:Class Research example:

Write down what you think the possible Write down what you think the possible answers might beanswers might be

Think about facts you already know or Think about facts you already know or ideas you haveideas you have

Step 3: Step 3: HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS

An An educated GUESSeducated GUESS that you think will that you think will answer your problem or purpose that was answer your problem or purpose that was stated in step 1. stated in step 1.

The hypothesis must be testable so that The hypothesis must be testable so that you can carry out an experiment to you can carry out an experiment to support or disprove it.support or disprove it.

Class Hypothesis exampleClass Hypothesis example

The class’s favorite ____ will be ____.The class’s favorite ____ will be ____.

Step 4: Step 4: EXPERIMENTEXPERIMENTCreate and Perform an Experiment:Create and Perform an Experiment:

Write the steps you will follow in the Write the steps you will follow in the experimentexperiment

(This is the hands-on portion of the scientific (This is the hands-on portion of the scientific method.)method.)

Experiment cont’d…Experiment cont’d… In a controlled experiment the scientist In a controlled experiment the scientist

creates the conditions to test the creates the conditions to test the hypothesis. Variables are factors that may hypothesis. Variables are factors that may be changed in the experiment. There are be changed in the experiment. There are two types of variables:two types of variables:

1.1. Independent VariableIndependent Variable (Manipulated Variable)-The (Manipulated Variable)-The scientist manipulates or changes this variable during scientist manipulates or changes this variable during the experiment. the experiment.

2.2.Dependent VariableDependent Variable (Responding Variable)-variable (Responding Variable)-variable that changes or responds to the changes in the that changes or responds to the changes in the independent variableindependent variable

Class Experiment exampleClass Experiment example

Steps:Steps: 1. Draw a table/box to collect tally marks1. Draw a table/box to collect tally marks

2. Carefully label the possible answers2. Carefully label the possible answers

3. Ask each student in class to answer the 3. Ask each student in class to answer the question and record their answer as a tally question and record their answer as a tally

Step 5: Step 5: ANALYZE DATAANALYZE DATA

Data = facts, figures, and other evidence Data = facts, figures, and other evidence gathered throughout the observations.gathered throughout the observations.

Data is represented in tables and Data is represented in tables and graphsgraphs..

Class Data exampleClass Data example

Draw a bar graph to show the responses Draw a bar graph to show the responses of the tally marksof the tally marks

Label each bar to match the possible Label each bar to match the possible answer choicesanswer choices

Your bar graph is a visual way of showing Your bar graph is a visual way of showing the responses.the responses.

Step 6: Step 6: CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Write a paragraphWrite a paragraph to communicate what to communicate what you have learned from the experiment. you have learned from the experiment.

Tell whether your hypothesis was Tell whether your hypothesis was supported supported (yes, the responses turned out (yes, the responses turned out like you thought they would) or like you thought they would) or refutedrefuted (shown false). (shown false).

Either way, it is a valuable experiment! Either way, it is a valuable experiment! NEVER go back & change your NEVER go back & change your hypothesis!hypothesis!

Class Conclusion exampleClass Conclusion example

I hypothesized that the class’s I hypothesized that the class’s favorite ____ would be ____. Based favorite ____ would be ____. Based on the data collected in class, the on the data collected in class, the class’s favorite ____ was ____. This class’s favorite ____ was ____. This data (data (supported/refutedsupported/refuted) my ) my hypothesis.hypothesis.

HINT for remembering the correct HINT for remembering the correct order of the steps…order of the steps…PREACHPREACH……

P – Problem / PurposeP – Problem / Purpose R – Research R – Research ******** E – ExperimentE – Experiment A – Analyze DataA – Analyze Data C – ConclusionC – Conclusion H - Hypothesis ****(MAKE SURE TO H - Hypothesis ****(MAKE SURE TO

MOVE IT UP TO THE CORRECT MOVE IT UP TO THE CORRECT STEP!!!)****STEP!!!)****

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method Step 1: Purpose. What is the class’s favorite __?Step 1: Purpose. What is the class’s favorite __? Step 2: Research. (Think about & make a list of Step 2: Research. (Think about & make a list of

possible answers & narrow down to 3)possible answers & narrow down to 3) Step 3: Hypothesis. (Educated guess) The Step 3: Hypothesis. (Educated guess) The

class’s favorite _ will be __.class’s favorite _ will be __. Step 4: Experiment. (Make tally data table, ask Step 4: Experiment. (Make tally data table, ask

peers your question, record tallies).peers your question, record tallies). Step 5: Analyze Data. (Turn tally results into a Step 5: Analyze Data. (Turn tally results into a

bar graph to visually show data).bar graph to visually show data). Step 6: Conclusions. (Write paragraph: Restate Step 6: Conclusions. (Write paragraph: Restate

hypothesis, Tell what your data showed, Tell hypothesis, Tell what your data showed, Tell whether hypothesis was supported or refuted)whether hypothesis was supported or refuted)