SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS

Scientific Method scientific method - the steps a scientist follows to answer a question or solve a problem including… Make Observations & Ask a Question Conduct Research Form a Hypothesis Test a Hypothesis/Conduct an Experiment Analyze Results Draw a Conclusion

1. Make Observations & Ask a Question Scientific Method 1. Make Observations & Ask a Question observation – any use of the senses to gather information inference - conclusions or deductions based on observations and prior knowledge Process of drawing a conclusion from given evidence

Quantitative (quantity) Qualitative (quality) 2 Types of Observations Quantitative (quantity) Deals with numbers Can be measured Length, height, area, volume, weight, speed, time, temperature, humidity, sound levels, cost, etc. Qualitative (quality) Deals with descriptions Can be observed but not measured Colors, textures, smells, tastes, appearance, beauty, etc. data - facts, figures, and other evidence gathered though observation

Scientific Method 1. Ask a Question 2. Conduct Research Questions help you narrow and focus investigation and identify what you are trying to find out. There are 3 ways to ask a question: What factors cause… What is the relationship between… What is the effect of… Becoming knowledgeable about the topic and what others have done regarding the question at hand is extremely important.

Scientific Method 3. Form a Hypothesis 4. Test a Hypothesis hypothesis - possible explanation or answer to a question If/then statements The “IF” part is doing what The “THEN” part is what will happen Ex: “If I study 10 minutes every night, then I will get an A+ in Science class” must be testable To test a hypothesis is to conduct an experiment

Testing a Hypothesis controlled experiment - experiment where all factors but one are kept constant - only ONE thing tested at a time  factors that are changed in an experiment are variables those that are not changed are constants/controls

Two Groups in a Controlled Experiment Experimental Group Control Group not changed used for comparison Ex. Student not studying changed used to test something Ex. Student studying 10 minutes every night

Two Groups in a Controlled Experiment

Which Group Do You Want to Be In? Control Group Experimental Group

Two Variables in a Controlled Experiment Independent Variable Dependent Variable factor that is changed the thing being tested Ex. time spent studying factor that changes as a result of the manipulated variable it DEPENDS of the independent variable factor that is measured or observed Ex. grade in Science

Relationship Between the Two Variables independent causes dependent if independent … then dependent dependent depends on the independent dependent is caused by the independent

Remembering the Two Variables

Graphing Scientific Variables

Scientific Method 5. Analyze Results 6. Draw a Conclusion In order to understand data collected it must be analyzed to determine if it supports the hypothesis. 3 types of conclusions: Supports the hypothesis Does not support the hypothesis Need more information Regardless of the outcome you must explain