Scientific Method A process to gather information

Observation Observe an unexplained natural phenomenon Collect information and ask questions Alexander Fleming observed a bacteria free area around mold…..hmmm could this be useful?

Hypothesis A statement about an idea that you can test, based on your observations Example: If penicillin inhibits bacterial growth then those plates treated with penicillin should have little to no bacterial growth.

Experimentation Variables Are factors that will affect the results of your experiment Example – what factors might affect the rate of bacterial growth? How many variations of theses factors can you come up with? For your experiment to be valid all variables must be kept constant

Experimentation Independent variable (experimental variable) Scientific experiments are designed to investigate only one variable at a time. What would be the experimental variable in Flemings experiment?

Experimentation Control group A group that will not be exposed to the independent variable It is used as a comparison What would the control group “look like” for Fleming's experiment?

Experimentation Experimental Group The group that would be exposed to the independent variable

Data The results from the experiment are usually mathematical since it is highly objective Usually presented in a data table and or graph These results are called the dependent variable What might be the dependent variable in Fleming’s experiment

Conclusion Will support or fail to support the hypothesis Represents the truest available information at that time

Theory Is a testable explanation for a natural occurring phenomenon and is capable of predicting future occurrences Has been supported by many experiments, all pointing to the same results