Understanding The Scientific Method: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Science

2. Definition of Science • An organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world. • Organized: Use of the scientific method • Evidence: Observations and data • Natural world: The real world around us (not a world based on opinions, beliefs or faith but one we can actually observe and measure)

3. The Scientific Method

4. The Scientific Method • Objectives: • Describe the method scientists use to investigate the natural world. • List the steps of the scientific method • Complete an experiment using the scientific method • Write up a lab report in acceptable scientific format

5. The Scientific Method is a series of steps used to investigate nature. *complete in handout

6. There are many versions of the scientific method, but they all share similarities. Scientific Method State the Problem Gather Information Form a Hypothesis Do the Experiment Record and Analyze Data State a Conclusion Repeat the Experiment Ask Question Form Hypothesis Test Hypothesis Analyze Results Draw Conclusions Communicate Results

7. The Scientific Method (What We Will Use) • Observe an unknown & ask A Question • Form Hypothesis (Aneducated prediction) • Experiment & Test Hypothesis • Collect Data • Analyze Results • Draw Conclusions & Communicate Results *Remember the acronyms: OHEDAC or OHEDACC *complete in handout

8. The scientific method starts when you make an observation and ask a question. Research the topic in the library, on the net, by talking to experts, watching videos, etc. Ask a question that can be answered yes or no by collecting numbers (data) as proof. Example: “What’s the best kind of music?” is an opinion and it cannot be measured. “What kind of music is most popular?” is a question that can be answered. *complete in handout Ask a Question, Gather Information

9. 2. Formulate a Hypothesis: • A hypothesis uses reasoning to predict the answer to the question. • It’s an educated guess about what your data or graph is going to look like. • Identify independent variable, dependent variables and controls *complete in handout

10. Independent Variable • The thing you change. • There can only be one (Only change one thing at a time!). *complete in handout

11. Control • Besides the independent variable, all the other things that could change must be “controlled”. • Sometimes we have a control group that gets nothing changed so we can compare it to the others. *complete in handout

12. Dependent Variable(s) • What happens, the thing we are going to measure. • There may be more than one dependent variable. (Usually we keep it to one to make it simple) *complete in handout

13. 3. Experiment: • Develop and follow a procedure. Modify it if needed, keep track of changes and reasons. • Repeat: Do the experiment as many times as possible, the more times the better *complete in handout

14. 4. Collect and Analyze Data: • Organize the numbers/data you collected into tables and graphs • Use the tables and graphs to make a conclusion *complete in handout

15. 5. Conclusion: • Restate your experiments purpose • Tell us what happened, what went wrong, what changes you made and why. • Was your hypothesis right or wrong? It’s okay to be wrong • Describe and explain your experiments steps and describe your results. • Make recommendations for more experiments and possible improvements. (If you’re experiment failed, we know one thing not to do again) *complete in handout

16. 6. Communicate the Results: • Write a lab report • Prepare a presentation for an audience (PowerPoint or a speech) • Get your report published in a scientific magazine. • Make a video presentation *complete in handout

17. Can you name all the steps? Ask a Question/Gather Information Formulate a Hypothesis Design and complete an Experiment Collect and Analyze Data Make a Conclusion Communicate the Results