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The Scientific Method. A simple process answering a question. Example #1: . Observation: Turn on flashlight button and no light. 2. State the problem/question. Why is the flashlight not working?. 3. Form a hypothesis (“educated” guess).
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The Scientific Method • A simple process answering a question
Example #1: • Observation: • Turn on flashlight button and no light
2. State the problem/question. • Why is the flashlight not working?
3. Form a hypothesis (“educated” guess) • Flashlight batteries are dead, causing flashlight to not work.
4. Collect data by testing your hypothesis. • Replace old batteries with new ones, making sure they are inserted correctly. • Flashlight still does not work!
2 Types of Data • Quantitative: uses numbers (measuring, counting) • Qualitative: does not use numbers (works, doesn’t work)
A good experiment has: • Variable (changes) • Independent Variable = thing experimenter makes different ex. New batteries or old? • Dependent Variable = what happens when the independent variable is applied ex. Does flashlight work or not?
and a “control” group. • The group you are comparing the experimental group to; • Ex. If testing a drug for its ability to lower blood pressure, the control group would not get the active drug but would get a “placebo” (a pill with no active ingredients)
5. Analyze data. • Organize data in a meaningful way, look for patterns. • Charts • Graphs • Tables
6. Conclusion • Experimental answer to your problem. • Conclusion may verify or disprove your hypothesis.
7. Verify results. (This strengthens your research) • Theory: when a hypothesis is verified • Law: when a theory is tested repeatedly with same results