Scientific Method Notes AC Earth Science September 2009

What is the scientific method? A scientist’s “plan” to help them answer a question.

Step 1: Ask a Question How does (IV) effect the (DV)?

Ask a Question cont. Independent Variable – the part of an experiment that you CHANGE. Dependent Variable – the part of an experiment that you OBSERVE for changes.

Step 2: Gather Information RESEARCH your question using the internet, non-fiction books, encyclopedias, papers, etc. OBSERVE using your five senses (taste, touch, smell, hear, see)

OBSERVATION cont. QUANTITATIVE – an observation that involves numbers (quantity). EX. He has two arms. QUALITATIVE – an observation that DOES NOT involve numbers. EX. He has a red shirt.

Step 3: Hypothesis Make an EDUCATED GUESS to your question. Use the information you found in books and you observed.

HYPOTHESIS Cont. IF light is needed for a plant to grow THEN a plant that gets no light will die, a plant with some light will live, and a plant with constant light will be the healthiest.

Step 4: Design your Experiment List and Get all of your materials. Write out the steps or procedures for doing the experiment. Make a chart or table to record your data.

Step 5: Do the Experiment Follow your procedures, make observations, and write down EVERYTHING you see.

Step 6: Analyze Your Data Look at your data and decide what happened Make a graph of your data –X and Y axis –Title

Step 7: Conclusion Use ALL your data and answer your question