Scientific Method

1. Scientific Method A series of steps that is used to answer a question or solve a problem.

2. Step 1: Ask a question Looking for answers to the question often involves making observations.

3. 7 ways to make observations • Sight • Smell • Taste: must know whether it is known or unknown • Touch • Hearing • Measure: must include a number • Change

4. Step 2: Form a hypothesis A hypothesis is a possible explanation for what you have observed. It is sometimes referred to as an educated guess. A hypothesis (as it pertains to scientific knowledge) is a question that is testable.

5. Hypothesis • Written in “if”, “then”, “because” form • Based on past observations or scientific knowledge

6. Step 3: Test the hypothesis Scientists try to design an experiment that will clearly show whether a particular factor caused an observed outcome.

7. Experiments Scientists perform controlled experiments. A controlled experiment tests only one factor at a time. The factor is known as the variable.

8. Variables • Independent variable: the thing that is being changed in the experiment. Also called the Manipulated Variable.

9. Variables • Dependent variable: what changes as a result of the independent variable. Also called the responding variable.

10. Variables • Control: the item that is being tested with no changes, used to compare

11. Materials • List of items needed to complete the lab • Amounts of materials needed

12. Procedure • Step by step directions to do lab • Written like a recipe • Can be repeated by someone

13. Step 4: Analyze the results Scientists organize data into tables, charts or graphs

14. Organizing Data • Qualitative data: a description, uses senses • Quantitative data: measure-ment, uses scientific tools

15. Step 5: Draw conclusions Scientists decide whether the results of the experiment support the hypothesis

16. Step 6: Communicate results Scientists must communicate their results so that other scientists can repeat the experiment to see if they get the same results.