The Scientific Method

What are the parts of the Scientific Method? Ask a question Do background research Create a hypothesis Test your hypothesis by conducting an experiment Analyze the data Report your results

Step 1: Ask a Question The scientific method starts when you ask a question about something that you observe. How, what, when, where, why, which, etc. Its also a question that you can measure Preferably with a number The question will be answered in an experiment Experiment- An organized procedure to study something under controlled conditions

Experiment Must be able to repeat They provide insight to a cause-and-effect when a factor is altered Different types of experiments Control Natural Field

Step 2: Background Research Research what techniques and equipment that would work best Learn from mistakes and blunders made by other scientist during past experiments When going somewhere new do your drive around until you stumble on it? Or do you look at a map first?

Step 2 Continued You will need at least 3 sources A list of these sources should be created so that you can construct a bibliography Your background research should be compiled and organized into a research paper

Research Paper Your research paper should include The history of similar experiments Definitions of all keywords and concepts included in your experiment Answers to all your research questions Mathematical formulas, if any, that you will need to describe the results of your experiment

Research Paper All pictures or facts that is in your research paper, they should be followed with a citation telling the reader where you found it A citation is the authors last name followed by the date of the publication The citation is a reference back to your bibliography

Research Paper Your research paper should be in this order Title Page Your Report Bibliography

Step 3: Construct a Hypothesis Hypothesis- An educated guess of what the results of your experiment will result in It must be worded in a way that it can be tested in your experiment The independent variable should be the easiest to test

Variables Variable- any factor that can change in a scientific investigation Independent Variable- factor in an experiment that is purposely manipulated The variable that the experimenter changes (I Vary) Dependent Variable- factor that changes as a result of manipulation of one or more of the independent variables Changes based on the Independent Variable

Variables Continued Controlled Variables- (Also called Constant Variables) Variables that the experimenter must keep the same through every test

Step 4: Test Your Hypothesis This is when you now conduct your experiment to test your hypothesis Write down the experimental procedure step by step in detail A good procedure is so detailed that it would allow someone else duplicate it exactly You will also need to duplicate the procedure at least 3 times to make your experiment valid

Conducting an Experiment You will need a notebook to record all your observations during the experiments Have a data table ready to record all data as it happens Record all procedures exactly and if changes are made record those Procedure changes are common Be consistent, careful, and accurate when you take measurements Numerical measurements are preferred

Step 5: Analyze Data Once your experiment is complete, collect all measurements and analyze them to see if your data supports your hypothesis When reviewing your data make sure you ask these questions: Is it complete, or did I forget something? Do you need to collect more data? Did you make any mistakes?

Step 5: Analyze Data Your conclusions summarize how your results support or contradict your original hypothesis If the hypothesis is not supported then you must come up with a new hypothesis and retest it based on the data you collected Data and measurements should be posted on data tables and graphs

Step 6: Results To finish your experiment you will need to conduct a final report Final report can be a detailed journal, science fair board, or science poster

Final Report Your final report should include: Title Page Abstract (abbreviated version of final report) Question, Variable, and Hypothesis Background research (Research Paper) Material List Experimental Procedures Data Analysis (Tables, Graphs, etc.) Conclusion Ideas for future research Acknowledgements Bibliography