Scientific Method The scientific method is an organized plan for gathering, organizing, and communicating information. The goal of any scientific method is to solve a problem or to better understand an observed event.

Observation 1. Observation – is information you obtain with your senses. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? What do you feel? What do you taste? observation

What you see The most direct way to gain knowledge about something in nature is to observe it. Your ability to observe can be extended by using tools such as microscopes, telescopes, thermometers, and rulers.

What you smell Many times scientists can identify the presence of a chemical, bacteria, or plant by its scent.

Can you identify the smell in the containers?

Good Smells

Texture –rough or smooth Touch and Feel Texture –rough or smooth

Taste Determining concentration through taste

What do you hear? Scientist record sounds of animals to determine how species communicate with each other. Sounds

Making a Question After evaluating your observations, ask a question. What do you want to find out? State the problem as a question. Make the question as specific as possible. Step_One__Ask_a_Question

Hypothesis A hypothesis is a proposed answer to the question you formulated. A hypothesis is an educated guess at the possible answer to the question. What do you think is the cause of the problem you are studying? State a logical answer to your question. This answer, which is your hypothesis, should give one possible explanation for the cause. Step_Two__Form_a_Hypothesis

Hypothesize

Planned Experiment Scientist perform experiments to test their hypothesis. An experiment must be accurate and précised in order to be reproducible. Accuracy – the closeness of a measurement to the true value of what is measured. Precision – is a gauge of how exact a measurement is. In other words, to you get the same results each time or are the measurement values very close each time you measure.

Plan Your Experiment The goal of an experiment is to test your hypothesis. What is the variable? What will be the control? Write a clear step-by-step procedure so that another person can repeat the same process

Components of an Experiment Variable – in an experiment any factor that can change is called a variable. Manipulated Variable – the variable that causes a change in another. Responding Variable – the variable that changes in response to the manipulated variable. Control Experiment – has two test groups- the control group and the experimental group. The control group is the standard by which any change can be measured.

Vocabulary Constant – The factors that are kept the same. Variable – The factor that is changed by the person doing the experiment Investigative tools

Researching an Experiment List the materials necessary to conduct the experiment Design the steps and procedures for the experiment. Design how data will be collected.

Analyze Data Evaluate – Do you see any trends or patterns in the data? Do the data support your hypothesis or prediction? Do you need more information? Step_Four__Analyze_the_Results_of_the_Experiment

Drawing a Conclusion State your conclusion based on your data. Your data should either support your conclusion or lead you to another hypothesis. Have any new questions or problems come up? . Step_Five__Draw_a_Conclusion

Chart

Presentation of Data Presentation Information obtain from observation can be presented in a variety of forms to make it easier for the viewer to obtain facts quickly. Graphs and charts present are some ways to organize and present data. Presentation

Review The_Five_Steps_of_the_Scientific_Method