Thinking Like a Scientist Scientific Method Thinking Like a Scientist

Step One Observe and ask questions. What is the problem? What do you already know? What do you want to find out? What type of research do you need to do?

Step Two Form a Hypothesis. This is your BEST GUESS of how the problem can be solved.

Step Three Plan an Experiment. This is where you will test your hypothesis. Identify VARIABLES-factors that can effect the outcome of your experiment.

Step Four Experiment Follow all the steps carefully and correctly. Observe what happens. Record the information. (DATA) Organize the data.

Step Five Draw Conclusions Analyze the data. Come to a conclusion about what actually happened during the experiment. Decide whether your hypothesis was correct.

Correct Hypothesis… Think of another question and do a different experiment, or….. You are finished!

Incorrect Hypothesis Form a new hypothesis. Experiment again.