The Scientific Method

**Also referred to as scientific inquiry** The Scientific Method A problem solving tool used by scientists to determine the truth of a hypothesis **Also referred to as scientific inquiry**

Steps to the Scientific Method Ask a Question Form a Hypothesis Design and Conduct an Experiment Analyze the Data Draw a Conclusion **Number of steps does not matter**

Step 1

Step 1 Ask a question - choose questions you are curious about - choose questions you don’t know the answer to - choose questions that can be tested through observations Ex: Which material will keep hot chocolate hot the longest?

Step 2

Step 2 Form a hypothesis - a prediction or educated guess Ex: The paper will hold the heat in longer because it is a better insulating material.

Step 3

Step 3 Design and Conduct an Experiment - control your experiment by using only one manipulated variable and one responding variable - keep all other variables constant - use precise measurements to collect data - collect data in organized tables Ex: Test three insulating materials that have the same amount of hot water. Measure their temperatures at the beginning and every five minutes after. Record your data in a table.

Vocabulary Review!!! Manipulated variable (independent) – variable the scientist changes on purpose Responding variable (dependent) – what is measured or observed during experiment Constants – variables purposefully kept the same Control – standard or untreated group used for comparison to all other groups

Step 4

Step 4 Analyze the Data - represent your data in a graph or picture to look for trends Ex: By using the line graph we could see that Styrofoam held the heat the longest and the ceramic held the heat the least amount of time.

Checklist for Graphs DV IV A good graph should always have a …   A good graph should always have a … 1. Title – “The effect of _______________ on _____________” 2. X and Y axis labels – remember it this way: Dependent Responding Y-axis D R Y Manipulated Independent X-axis M I X 3. Number each axis and space the numbers EVENLY!!! 4. Decide on line or bar graph – your choice unless told otherwise. IV DV

Step 5

Step 5 Draw a Conclusion - Develop explanations for your results - Tell if your data supported the hypothesis - Develop explanations for your results - Come up with new questions * It is okay for a hypothesis to be proved wrong; many scientists learn a great deal from these experiments and often come up with new questions from them. Ex: Styrofoam was the best insulator. Maybe the paper was not thick enough. Why is Styrofoam the best insulator?

The Scientific Method in a Real Lab Scientific experimentation does not always happen in the neat steps described. Many times new questions or discoveries arise in the middle of experimentation that lead scientists to reexamine their experiments.

In Action!

Vocabulary Review! Define the following terms using the glossary in the textbook: Scientific inquiry - responding variable Hypothesis - observation Scientific law - data Scientific theory - inference Controlled - manipulated experiment variable