Review the scientific methodSEVEN STEPS

NCVPS Earth and Environmental ScienceKELLA RANDOLPH B.S, M.ED.

Teachers explain the nature of science (observation and experimentation), and we are taught to model the scientific process when we conduct our research. Within the model of the scientific process, there are clear logical guidelines for solving scientific problems called the scientific method.THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

As scientists, you have already made two important assumptions about nature- it is understandable and predictable. You have also figured out that even though this is true, nature also has complex systems. This is why you need those logical and clear steps to conduct research. SEVEN STEPS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH

What is the scientific method?Logical systematic approach to solving a problem

What is always the first step in the scientific method?

Make observations and ask a question.

What makes a good hypothesis?

A good hypothesis is one you can test!

Most of the time a hypothesis is written like this: "If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen." (Fill in the blanks with the appropriate information from your own experiment.)

YOUR HYPOTHESIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY TEST, WHAT'S CALLED A TESTABLE HYPOTHESIS. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE BOTH "WHAT YOU DO" AND "WHAT WILL HAPPEN."

A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work.

If you were to test your hypothesis, you would conduct experiments that include specific factors or variables. Independent variables are the factors that you would change during your experiment. When you change your independent variables, you would also expect to see a change in your dependent variables. Most experiments only test one independent variable at a time. You would also need a control group for your experiment. A control group is a group that represents a standard for comparison to another group. Both groups are identical except for one factor.

YOUR EXPERIMENT WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT BECAUSE IT CONTAINS A CONTROL GROUP.

What is a control?A control group is a group that represents a standard for comparison to another group. Both groups are identical except for one factor.

What is an independent variable?. Independent variables are the factors that you would change during your experiment.

The variable that is being manipulated by the experimenter

When you change your independent variables, you would also expect to see a change in your dependent variables.

What is a dependent variable?the thing that changes in reaction to the independent variable

A dependent variable is what you measure in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment. The dependent variable responds to the independent variable. It is called dependent because it "depends" on the independent variable. In a scientific experiment, you cannot have a dependent variable without an independent variable.

What is a conclusion?Reach a Conclusion. Did your experiment prove your hypothesis or disprove it?

End result from your experiment…what is your experiment telling you?

How many variables should an experiment measure?

Only one!

A reliable experiment will only measure 1 variable.

A scientist wants to test the effects of soda on the growth of plants. The scientist keeps everything consistent in the experiment except to plant A.

He adds 5 ml of Soda plus 5 ml of water each day to Plant A.

He adds 5 ml of water to Plant B.

Each day, the scientist measures the height of each plant and then records his observations.

1. In the above experiment what variable is being tested? Is this the Dependent or the Independent variable?

2. In the above experiment, what is controlled?

3. Is this the Dependent or Independent variable? (could have temperature, sunlight, etc.)

A scientist wants to test the effects of soda on the growth of plants. The scientist keeps everything consistent in the experiment except to plant A.

He adds 5 ml of Soda plus 5 ml of water each day to Plant A.

He adds 5 ml of water to Plant B.

Each day, the scientist measures the height of each plant

and then records his observations.

In the above experiment what variable is being tested? Soda

Is this the Dependent or the Independent variable? Dependent

In the above experiment, what is controlled? Water

Is this the Dependent or Independent variable? Independent

Sources

BELOW IS A VIDEO DEMONSTRATION ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES:

HTTP://WWW.SOPHIA.ORG/TUTORIALS/INDEPENDENTDEPENDENT-VARIABLES--2

HERE IS A VIDEO THAT EXPLAINS A CONTROL GROUP

HTTP://EDUCATION-PORTAL.COM/ACADEMY/LESSON/WHAT-IS-A-CONTROL-GROUP-DEFINITION-AND-USE-IN-RESEARCH.HTML#LESSON

HTTP://WWW.SCIENCEBUDDIES.ORG/SCIENCE-FAIR-PROJECTS/PROJECT_HYPOTHESIS.SHTML

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