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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)
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