The Scientific Method

1. The Scientific Method What is it? Mrs. Martins

2. WHAT is Science? • Science is a process • Science is an organized way of thinking about the natural world

3. The Scientific Method is a series of steps scientists use to answer questions or solve problems.

4. The steps of the Scientific Method

5. 6th Grade. • Ask a question • Make a Hypothesis • Test the Hypothesis • Analyze Results • Draw Conclusions • Communicate Results

6. 7th – 8th Grade • Ask a question • Conduct Research • Make a Hypothesis • Test the Hypothesis • Analyze Results • Draw Conclusions • Communicate Results

7. Mnemonics to help remember … Ann (Rich) Has Twenty Adorable Dogs and Cats

8. ASK A QUESTION • Curiosity, Skeptism, Objective, • Logic, Careful observation, • Creative Based on making Observations • Use the 5 senses -

9. FORM A HYPOTHESIS • A possible explanation or answer to question; educated guess • Then make a prediction – what will happen • Must write prediction in “if… then… because… ” (cause…effect… reason…) format. • Must be testable • Must be measurable • Remember: A hypothesis is never wrong!

10. TEST THE HYPOTHESIS 1 • Develop a Procedure • Carefully identify all variables • Conduct a controlled experiment • A “Fair” or unbiased experiment tests only one variable at a time

11. 3 Types of Variables Controlled variables - are all kept constant by scientist throughout the experiment.

12. 2. Manipulated/Independent variable … is what the scientist changes on purpose (the “if” part, or cause)

13. 3. Responding/Dependent Variable - is what you measure (the “then” part, or effect) - Results obtained from changing the independent variable

14. Variables may be … • Quantitative - Can be counted or measured: length, quantity, time • Qualitative - Can only be described: quality,color, taste,

15. The Control Group The set of experiments that contain everything except the manipulated variable

16. TEST THE HYPOTHESIS 2 • If no experiment is possible, do further observation and research • If your investigation calls for creating technology, build or model it

17. ANALYZE RESULTS • Collect data into well-made tables and display on graphs • Use mathematical tools (like the calculator or computer) to help • Analyze your data. Discuss and make sense of it. Is it relevant? Is the Question answered? What information do you get?

18. DRAW CONCLUSIONS • Ask: Do my results support my hypothesis? Is it supported or not supported by the experiment • NOT true or false!! • Do NOT ask: Is my experiment right or wrong? • Explain how or why.

19. COMMUNICATE RESULTS • Check/Share results with colleagues: peer review • Publish results in a report, scientific journal, magazine, meetings, in a class, on internet, etc

20. Writing a Lab Report • Title: • Question: • Research: • Hypothesis: • Materials: • Procedure: • Results: • Analysis: • Conclusion:

21. Other Terms to Know • Technology – application of science, usually to solve problems • Theory – unifying explanation for a broad range of observations and hypotheses – answers WHY. • Law – Summary of scientific results. WHAT happens or HOW things work, but not WHY