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USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD. Steps in the Scientific Method. State the problem Form a hypothesis Test the hypothesis Analyze your results Draw a conclusion Communicate your results. Step # 1 State the Problem. “ Who has the best hamburger?” Always stated as a question. Make Observations
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Steps in the Scientific Method • State the problem • Form a hypothesis • Test the hypothesis • Analyze your results • Draw a conclusion • Communicate your results
Step # 1State the Problem • “Who has the best hamburger?” • Always stated as a question
Make Observations • Gather Information
Step # 2 Form a Hypothesis • Hypothesis: a statement that predicts or suggests an answer to a question. • A hypothesis must be TESTABLE.
Step #3 Test the Hypothesis(Conduct an Experiment) • Experiment: a series of carefully planned steps that tests a hypothesis.
Record your findings • Write it down • make tables • create charts
Step #4Analyze the results • Analyzing helps to construct reasonable explanations based on the evidence that you have collected.
Redo your work • Why?
Step #5Draw a Conclusion • Did you prove your hypothesis?
Step # 6Communicate Results • Write a report • Give a talk • Put results on the Internet
Controlled Experiment • Uses a control group andone or more experimental groups.
What is a “factor”? • A factor is any part of an experiment.
A Definition • Control: a part of the experiment that is not being tested and is used for comparison.
A Definition • Constant: a factor that does not change during an experiment.
Variable: anything that can change in an experiment. • You must NAME the variable in your experiment.
Independent Variable • The part of the experiment that is changed by the person doing the experiment.
Dependent Variable • The part of the experiment that is affected by the independent variable.
The Groups: (1) control group & (2) experimental group • All “factors” are the same for both groups except for ONE. • This factor is called the “variable”. • It is the thing being tested. • The experimental group has the “variable”.