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The Scientific Method

Explore the steps of the scientific method from problem identification to drawing conclusions, learn about variables, hypothesis, experiments, data analysis, and more.

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The Scientific Method

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  1. The Scientific Method

  2. What is the scientific method? • Science is defined as observing, studying, and experimenting to gain a greater understanding of the world around us. • The scientific method is a system that helps scientists apply critical thinking in a way to solve problems.

  3. Step 1: Identify the Problem • What do you want to know or explain? • Using your observations, write a question that addresses what you want to know or explain.

  4. Step 2: Form a hypothesis • A hypothesis is more than just an educated guess about the outcome of the experiment. It’s an educated prediction. • Scientists do extensive research by reading research journals on similar topics. • This research could take many months before a hypothesis is created.

  5. QUESTIONS? • Upcoming!! • How to design an experiment & learning to control your variables

  6. Step 3: Designing An Experiment • This is where you test your hypothesis! • Scientists use experiments to • search for a cause and • effect relationship. • Experiments are designed • so that one item causes • something else to change. • These changing quantities • are called variables.

  7. What are variables? • There are three types: independent variables, dependent variables, and control variables. • The independent variable: • Changed by the scientist • One per experiment • When altered, the scientist can observe what happens • The dependent variable: • Changes due to the independent variable • What is observed by scientists

  8. What are variables? • The control variables: • Must remain constant (show no change) • All variables must be • measureable. • Ex. Love is not a • measureable variable.

  9. Variable Examples • If you open a faucet • (ind. variable), the quantity • of water flowing (dep. variable) • changes in response. • If we want to measure how much water increases when we open the faucet, it is important to make sure that the water pressure (control variable) is held constant.

  10. Setting up a controlled experiment

  11. Step 4: Analyze your data & draw a conclusion • Does it support your hypothesis? • Is your data reliable? • If the hypothesis is supported, write your conclusion summarizing your important parts of your experiment and the results. • If your data is inconclusive or the experiment is flawed, write your conclusion like above.

  12. Is an experiment ever thought of as a failure? • NO!!!! Step 5: Communicate your results! • Even if your hypothesis could not be proven or your experiment contained flaws, it’s a learning experience. • Redesign your experiment and rewrite your hypothesis. • Ex. The Sponge Bob’s cure for slimotosis

  13. What is a Scientific Theory? • A theory is an explanation • that has been tested by repeated • observations. Theories are not • definite though. • Ex. Two hundred years ago, heat was thought to be an invisible fluid that flowed from a warm object to a cool object. • As technology advances, we are able to see our world more closely, make revisions, or change our theories if necessary.

  14. What is a Scientific Law? • A law that states a repeated • observation about nature. • They are usually very simple. • Ex. Law of Gravity

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