The Scientific Method: AKA “scientific inquiry” process used to answer questions & gain knowledge

The 6 “Steps” Question Research Hypothesize/Predict Experiment/Test/Collect Data Analyze Data & Make Data Visual Conclude/Report results

Step 1: Question Comes from OBSERVATIONS What do you want to find out? Must be testable and measureable (have a clear outcome). NOT opinion ex: Which flower smells better?

Step 2: Research prior knowledge internet books ask an expert, etc.

Step 3: Hypothesis/Prediction an “educated guess” based on research from step 2! “If, then, because” statement “If”: what you are planning to test “then”: what you expect to happen “because”: why you think it will happen (justification)

Step 3: Hypothesis Hypothesis: Some students behave better in class if they know there will be a reward. Prediction: If the school offers fun incentives, then students will behave better because they’ll want to receive a fun reward.

Experiment/Collect Data Step 4: Experiment/Collect Data must have clear procedures (steps) must be able to be duplicated by others Include a list of all materials used, AND specific instructions. You must: Do the experiment multiple times OR with multiple items. Collect Data = write it ALL down

An experiment always has: A. VARIABLES- “things” in a test that can change 3 TYPES of Variables independent variable- What is being tested (the IF part). dependent variable- What is observed/measured by the tester (the THEN part). constant (controlled) variable(s)- Keep the same throughout ALL trials

Ex: If I water some flowers twice as much as other flowers, then the ones watered more will grow taller because I know that plants need plenty of water to grow. Quest.: What is the independent variable? Ans.: amount of H2O used Quest.: What is the dependent variable? Ans.: plant height Quest.: What are some control variables? Ans.: type of flowers, where planted, amount of sunshine, soil, fertilizer, how watered

An experiment always has: B. EXPERIMENTAL GROUP- the group or individual in the experiment that receives the experimental treatment. (the “lab rats”)

An experiment might have: Control group: the group or individual in the experiment that is NOT tested is used as a reference for what “normal” would be like. Not all experiments have a control group

tests one “thing” at a time. Why? must be fair and unbiased. A good experiment: tests one “thing” at a time. Why? must be fair and unbiased. DON’T allow opinions to influence the experiment or your results.

Step 5: Analyze the Data Look at your data for patterns or trends. Make a graph, table, diagram, etc. Effect of sun on plant growth What’s missing?? cm

Step 6: Conclusion Valid hypothesis: hypothesis is supported “My hypothesis was valid because ….” Invalid hypothesis: hypothesis is NOT supported “My hypothesis was invalid because ….” (revise your hypothesis and try again!)

Step 6: Conclusion A conclusion should: clearly answer your question regardless if your hypothesis was valid or invalid. Be supported/justified by the data (cite the data in your conclusion)

Read the close up of this add on the next slide Read the close up of this add on the next slide. You will answer questions about an investigation that uses this product.

I wanted to test types of plant fertilizers I wanted to test types of plant fertilizers. I thought that using Miracle-Gro® fertilizer makes plants grow taller because a famous gardener said so. I put 3 marigolds in a pot with Miracle-Gro® and 3 marigolds in a pot with Wal-Mart brand fertilizer. After 8 weeks of data collection, I found that there was no difference in plant height but that the plants with Miracle-Gro® have more flowers.

What is your hypothesis? I wanted to test types of plant fertilizers. I thought that using Miracle-Gro® fertilizer makes plants grow taller because a famous gardener said so. I put 3 marigolds in a pot with Miracle-Gro® and 3 marigolds in a pot with Wal-Mart brand fertilizer. After 8 weeks of data collection, I found that there was no difference in plant height but that the plants with Miracle-Gro® have more flowers. What is your hypothesis? Plants grown with Miracle-Gro® fertilizer will grow taller b/c Ashley Stephenson said so.

What is your prediction (If, then, b/c …)? I wanted to test types of plant fertilizers. I thought that using Miracle-Gro® fertilizer makes plants grow taller because a famous gardener said so. I put 3 marigolds in a pot with Miracle-Gro® and 3 marigolds in a pot with Wal-Mart brand fertilizer. After 8 weeks of data collection, I found that there was no difference in plant height but that the plants with Miracle-Gro® have more flowers. What is your prediction (If, then, b/c …)? If plants are grown with Miracle-Gro® fertilizer, then they will grow taller b/c Ashley Stephenson said so.

What is your independent variable (IV)? I wanted to test types of plant fertilizers. I thought that using Miracle-Gro® fertilizer makes plants grow taller because a famous gardener said so. I put 3 marigolds in a pot with Miracle-Gro® and 3 marigolds in a pot with Wal-Mart brand fertilizer. After 8 weeks of data collection, I found that there was no difference in plant height but that the plants with Miracle-Gro® have more flowers. What is your independent variable (IV)? You are testing types of fertilizer.

What is your dependent variable (DV)? I wanted to test types of plant fertilizers. I thought that using Miracle-Gro® fertilizer makes plants grow taller because a famous gardener said so. I put 3 marigolds in a pot with Miracle-Gro® and 3 marigolds in a pot with Wal-Mart brand fertilizer. After 8 weeks of data collection, I found that there was no difference in plant height but that the plants with Miracle-Gro® have more flowers. What is your dependent variable (DV)? You are measuring plant height.

What are your control variables (CV)? I wanted to test types of plant fertilizers. I thought that using Miracle-Gro® fertilizer makes plants grow taller because a famous gardener said so. I put 3 marigolds in a pot with Miracle-Gro® and 3 marigolds in a pot with Wal-Mart brand fertilizer. After 8 weeks of data collection, I found that there was no difference in plant height but that the plants with Miracle-Gro® have more flowers. What are your control variables (CV)? Things that should all be the same include: types of flower, amt. of H2O, amt. of sun, type of pot, etc.

I wanted to test types of plant fertilizers I wanted to test types of plant fertilizers. I thought that using Miracle-Gro® fertilizer makes plants grow taller because a famous gardener said so. I put 3 marigolds in a pot with Miracle-Gro® and 3 marigolds in a pot with Wal-Mart brand fertilizer. After 8 weeks of data collection, I found that there was no difference in plant height but that the plants with Miracle-Gro® have more flowers. Is your hypothesis valid or invalid? Why?

fin END OF Scientific Method NOTES 2014

(use for sci. method BW day 1) Amber wants to see if plants grow better in the sunlight or with indoor lighting. She put 1 Better Boy tomato plant outside in the sun and 1 Big Tasty tomato plant inside the house under a Gro-Light. She treated each plant the same way during the test. How could Amber improve this experiment? (use for sci. method BW day 1)

3 fins