THE STEPS

6 steps Scientific MethodAsk a questionForm HypothesisTest HypothesisAnalyze / Collect DataDraw ConclusionCommunicate Results

• The knowledge obtained when scientists answer one question often generates other questions or proves useful in solving other problems.

Observing and HypothesizingObserving and Hypothesizing

• The common steps that biologists and other scientists use to gather information and answer questions are collectively known as scientific methods.

The methods biologists useThe methods biologists use

• Scientific methods usually begin with scientists identifying a problem to solve by observing the world around them.

• Begin with a solid question or problem

•Choose something that can be measured.

#1 Ask a question

RESEARCH THE PROBLEMRESEARCH THE PROBLEM

Consult a wide variety of resources on the topic

Take notes and study the existing data

• A hypothesis is an explanation for a question or a problem that can be formally tested.

• Hypothesizing is one of the methods most frequently used by scientists.

• A hypothesis is not a random guess.

The methods biologists useThe methods biologists use

#2 FORM A HYPOTHESIS

• Make an educated guess about a solution or answer.

•Turn the hypothesis into a statement that you think solves the problem

WRITE DOWN METHODS AND PROCEDURES List the methods and procedures that test your hypothesis.

Methods and procedures are a list of step by step instructions that will be used in your experiment.

These may also be divided into limitations and delimitations.

Limitations = controls

Delimitations = variables and factors that cannot be included as controls

#3 TEST THE EXPERIMENT

• Observe the experiment and the changes that occur.

• Record the data accurately and honestly.

• To a scientist, an experiment is an investigation that tests a hypothesis by the process of collecting information under controlled

conditions.

ExperimentingExperimenting

• Some experiments involve two groups: the control group and the experimental

group.

What is a controlled experiment?What is a controlled experiment?

• The control is the group in which all conditions are kept the same.

• The experimental group is the test group, in which all conditions are kept the same except for the single condition being tested.

• In a controlled experiment, only one condition is changed at a time.

Designing an experimentDesigning an experiment

• The condition in an experiment that is changed is the independent variable, because it is the only variable that affects the outcome of the experiment.

• While changing the independent variable, the scientist observes or measures a second condition that results from the change.

Designing an experimentDesigning an experiment

• This condition is the dependent variable, because any changes in it depend on changes made to the independent variable.

#4 ANALYZE THE DATA

•Analyze the recorded findings.

• Organize the recorded data into a chart, graph, or table

#5 DRAW A CONCLUSION

Summarize your findings.

Write a statement that proves or disapproves your original hypothesis.

#6 COMMUNICATE RESULTSShare results with peersWrite a lab paper that summarizes results

and tells how you did the experiment.Make changes to your question or hypothesis

so that you can repeat the experiment.

Repeat the experiment to ensure consistency.

•You cannot form a conclusion based on data that is

• inconsistent

• unproven