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The Scientific Method

Ms. Lent

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01.

02.

03.

04.

Learning Goal:

I will be able to compare the weight of an object to the sum of the weight of its parts before and after an interaction.

Learning Goal:

I will be able to summarize properties of original materials, and the new material(s) formed, to demonstrate that a change has occurred.

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Learning Goal:

I will be able to explain what a change in state is and describe how matter changes state.

Learning Goal:

I will be able to explain the difference between physical and chemical changes.

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Types of Research

  • Basic Research - investigates why or how something occurs
  • Applied Research - investigates ways to apply knowledge from basic research

BASIC

APPLIED

Discovered that water helps plants grow

Tells us how different amounts of water affect plants growth

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What Is The Scientific Method?

  • It is the steps someone takes to identify a question, develop a hypothesis, design and carry out steps or procedures to test the hypothesis, and document observations and findings to share with someone else.
  • In other words, it’s the steps taken to solve a problem or answer a question.

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Steps In The Scientific Method

  • Observe & Identify the Problem
  • Hypothesize
  • Experiment
  • Collect Data
  • Make a Conclusion
  • Retest/Communicate

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Observations

  • An example of an observation - plants aren’t growing very well in your backyard
  • Come up with a question…. WHY aren’t they growing?

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Hypothesis

  • Must be testable
  • Always written as If…Then… statements
  • Predicts an outcome
  • An example of a hypothesis might be:
    • IF the plants aren’t growing THEN they aren’t in the correct soil.

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Experiment

  • A procedure to test the hypothesis.
  • Variable – factor in the experiment that is being tested
    • (Change the type of soil used for plants)

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Variables

  • The factor that is changed is known as the independent variable. (types of soil used)
  • The factor that is measured or observed is called the dependent variable. (amount plants grow)
  • A good or “valid” experiment will only have ONE independent variable!

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The Constant Variable

  • Other factors that are kept the same throughout ALL of the experiment are called constants and are NOT being tested.
  • Examples:
    • Plants are given same amounts of water
    • Plants receive same amount of sunlight
    • Plants are of the same type/variety

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Examples of Variables

Independent

Dependent

Constant

The type of soil used to grow the plant.

How much the plant grew depending on what type of soil it is in.

The same type of plant is used, the same amount of water given, and the amount of sunlight the plant receives is the same.

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The Control Group

  • You will always have one control group which you compare your variables to.
  • In this example, your control group may be the plants grown in the soil in your backyard. (You know something is wrong, so you have to figure out if it’s the soil)

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Data

  • Qualitative Data - gives a description to the results
  • Quantitative Data - gives a number to the results

Qualitative

Quantitative

The plant grew.

The plant grew two inches.

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Data Collection and Reporting

  • Can be done:
    • Tables
    • Graphs
    • Pictures
  • What is the most fitting for your experiment?

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Conclusion

  • The answer to the hypothesis based on the data obtained from the experiment.

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Retest

  • One more thing… it is best to make several trials with each independent variable.
  • In order to verify the results, experiments should be retested.
  • This assures that no mistakes were made.

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The Scientific Method

  1. Make Observations & Identify a Problem/Question
  2. Form a Hypothesis about the problem (if…then…)
  3. Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis
  4. Collect Data
  5. Form a Conclusion
  6. Retest & Communicate Results