Scientific Method The process to conduct scientific investigations

What is the Scientific Method?  The Scientific Method is a process used to find answers to questions about the world around us There are several versions No matter which version is used, all begin with a testable question and provide an organized method for conducting and analyzing an experiment

So How Many Steps?  There are six steps in our method  This will help you remember:  SIX  GREAT  FARMERS  PLANT  ALL  DAY

What are the Steps?  Six: State the Problem  Great: Gather Information  Farmers: Form Hypothesis  Plant: Perform Experiment  All: Analyze Data  Day: Draw Conclusions

SIX: State the Problem What do you want to know or explain? Your problem must be in the form of a question and include the independent variable and dependent variable Does (the) ________affect ____________? (independent variable) (dependent variable)

GREAT: Gather Information  You should research the scientific concepts associated with the experiment  For example, if you are testing to see which paper towel brand is the most absorbent, you should research absorbency, paper material, and quality control testing. This will help answer the “WHY?”

GREAT: Gather Information (cont’)  DO NOT LOOK FOR THE ANSWER TO YOUR POSSIBLE SCIENCE PROBLEM, look for:  General background information  Definitions of words related to your topic  Statistics – results from other similar scientific experiments  Examples  Scientists/people related to your chosen topic

FARMERS: Form Hypothesis  Remember a hypothesis is an “educated guess.”  After doing research on your topic and coming up with a question or problem to investigate, you now have the tools to make an “educated guess.”

FARMERS: Form Hypothesis (con’t)  Your hypothesis should follow the format If (the) ________, then ____________. (independent variable) affects the (dependent variable)  DO NOT use words such as best, better, bigger, smaller  Use words that are measurable

FARMERS: Form Hypothesis (con’t) Great Examples:  If the size of a meteorite affects the circumference of a crater, then the larger the meteorite, the larger the crater.  If the type of liquid affects the growth of a plant, then orange juice will help the plant grow tallest.

PLANT: Perform Experiment  To successfully carry out an experiment, your experimental design must include the following:  materials list  step-by-step procedure  list of the experimental control; independent, dependent & controlled variables  list of safety precautions

Perform Experiment - Materials  Must be in a list form (no sentences)  Must include all equipment and supplies needed to carry out the experiment  Remember this list might change when you actually perform your experiment. This list is what you think you may need. It can always be updated.

Perform Experiment – Materials (con’t)  Must include size of items  Must include amount of each item needed  Example: 9 radish seeds 3 four-inch flower pots 15 cups of potting soil 25 mL of vinegar 25 mL of tap water 25 mL of orange juice 1 graduated cylinder 1 metric rul er

Perform Experiment – Procedure  Step-by-step directions  One step at a time  Steps must be very specific  Steps must be numbered  You do not need to say “Collect materials”, it is assumed you will do that.

Perform Experiment – Procedure (con’t)  Include what you are measuring (dependent variable) and how often you will be measuring  Your experiment must include at least 3 trials

Perform Experiment – Procedure (con’t)  DO NOT ever include the statement “RECORD RESULTS.” This statement means nothing.  Rather than say “record results” write “record height, length, etc”  You are recording a measurement, which are your results  BE SPECIFIC!

Procedure Example 1.Label 3 four-inch flower pots – one vinegar, one orange juice, one water. 2.Fill each flower pot with 5 cups of potting soil. 3.Place 2 radish seeds in each of the pots. 4.Water the pot labeled vinegar with 10 mL of vinegar. 5.Water the pot labeled orange juice with 10 mL of orange juice. 6.Water the pot labeled water with 10 mL of water. 7.Place the three pots near a window. 8.Measure the height of the growing radish seeds every other day for 4 weeks. 9.Use a metric ruler to measure the heights of all the growing seeds. 10.Record all the heights in a table. 11.Also records several observations of the growing radish seeds each day you measure the plants. 12.Record these observations in a separate table.

Perform Experiment – Control & Variables  Experimental Control – the part of the experiment that is used as the “normal” or “comparison” so that you can compare it to the independent variable  Examples include a plant by the window or a plant watered with water

Perform Experiment – Control & Variables (con’t)  Independent Variable – the part of the experiment you are changing or testing  Ex: types of liquid or number of seeds  Dependent Variable – the part of the experiment that your are measuring  Ex: plant height (mm) or leaf length (mm)

Perform Experiment – Control & Variables (con’t)  Controlled variables – parts of the experiment that never change, such as:  same number of seeds  same amount and type of soil  same size pot  same amount of sunlight, etc.

S.U.N.S.E.T.  S ize  U nique qualities  N umber of parts  S hape  E xact colors  T exture

ALL: Analyze Data  Your results should include three parts:  A table of data (numbers)  A graph of averages or final results  A paragraph of detailed qualitative observations taken during the experiment

Analyze Data – Data Table  Includes title  Organized information with labeled columns and rows  Proper units included with measurement  Must include results of ALL trials

Data Table Example Number of Chocolate Chips in Different Brands of Cookies Brand # Chips Trial 1 # Chips Trial 2 # Chips Trial 3 # Chips Trial AVG Chips Ahoy! Original Chips Ahoy! Chewy Chips Deluxe

Analyze Data – Graph  Include title  Include labels for both axes with proper metric units  Include correct scale for axes  Include a key or legend if needed

Analyze Data – Graph (con’t)  Choose correct type of graph for your final results  Bar graph – used for comparison  Line graph – used to show change over time  Pie or circle graph – used to show parts of a whole (percentage)

Analyze Data – Graph (con’t) Problem: Does the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE affect the DEPENDENT VARIABLE? X-axis Y-axis dependent variable measurement units independent variable measurement units

Analyze Data - Paragraph of detailed qualitative observations  One to two paragraphs of what you saw, heard, felt, or smelled during the experiment  Notes of your observations should be written down as you are performing your experiment

Analyze Data – Paragraph (con’t)  After the experiment, write up your notes into a paragraph or two.  NO OPINIONS – only what happened during the experiment, about the experiment.  NO CONCLUSION statements – nothing about your quantitative observations

DAY: Draw Conclusions  All of the following must be used to create a complete conclusion:  Restatement of your problem  Restatement of your hypothesis  General statement of the final average results of your trials. DO NOT restate the results of each and every trial. That information is already in your data table. Averages are a good summary.

DAY: Draw Conclusions (con’t)  General patterns or trends found in your analysis of results.  A sentence which states if your hypothesis was accepted (correct) or rejected (wrong).  Answer to the problem.

DAY: Draw Conclusions (con’t)  A list of factors that may have affected the results of your project.  A general statement of what the experiment taught you and how what you learned can be connected to the real world or your life.

Conclusion Example For my experiment, I wanted to find out if different kinds of household liquids would affect the growth of radish seeds. I thought that if radish seeds were grown in vinegar, they would grow taller than seeds grown in water or orange juice. According to my results, radishes watered with vinegar grew to an average height of 15.6 cm, radishes watered with water grew to an average height of 23.4 cm, and radishes watered with orange juice grew to an average height of 10.1 cm. Therefore, my hypothesis was rejected. Vinegar did not help the radish seeds grow taller. In conclusion, radish seeds grown in water grew the tallest, while radish seeds grown in orange juice grew the shortest. Several factors may have affected the results of my experiment. During the experiment, one of the seeds watered in vinegar died after 3 days, leaving only one plant for vinegar. In addition, after 7 days, the radishes in orange juice grew blue mold and it did not smell very good. From this experiment, I learned that if I want to grow large, healthy radishes, I should water the seeds with water, not vinegar or orange juice.

Scientific Method Any Questions?

References  projects/project_data_analysis.shtml projects/project_data_analysis.shtml  Ms. Sue Fortin, Science teacher – Coelho Middle School