What is a scientific method? Introductory Chapter What is a scientific method?

6 steps of scientific method: Problem Hypothesis Experiment Data Conclusion Writing a report

1. Problem- Identifying a problem and doing research Is a question(?) about something. The question can be about anything. For example: How do plants support themselves? How do mosquitoes transmit diseases? -researching for answers by reading articles, books, scientific journals, online etc.

2. Hypothesis -Forming a hypothesis Hypothesis: is the answer to a question. It’s a guess or prediction. The hypothesis must be based on research, observations, readings etc. AND, the hypothesis must be testable. For example: Question: Why plants are green? Answer (Hypothesis): They have chlorophyll inside plants that makes them green.

3. Experiment -Designing and carrying out an experiment Scientists need to plan how to do their experiment and identify the variables: how much water? how much sun? how much food? etc. Variable: anything that can affect the outcome of an experiment

Experiment con’t. Controlling the experiment: When doing an experiment, scientists need to keep all the variables constant. Constant: something that does not change; is always stable Controlled experiment: experiment in which all the condition except one are kept constant

2. Hypothesis -Forming a hypothesis (con’t.) * Independent variable (manipulated variable): the variable that is changed on the purpose (is a change). * Dependent variable (responding variable): the variable that is observed and that changes in response to the manipulated variable (is a result).

4. Data- Recording and analyzing data Dealing with data: it’s very important to take accurate data (time, amount, date, units etc). It’s important to find a pattern in the data. To see the pattern, it’s easier to transfer data to tables, charts, graphs.

5. Conclusion -making a conclusion Making a conclusion: Conclusion is a statement that summarizes your data. In the conclusion, scientists need to decide if the hypothesis was supported or refuted by the collected data. Conclusions often lead to new questions, and new experiments.

6. Writing a report (lab report) Communicating results: Scientists can make their records (data) into a lab report as a written communication.

Theory If the hypothesis is tested again and again by many scientists and gets the same result, it’s called a theory.

6 steps of scientific method: Problem (?) Hypothesis (answer to ?; guess or prediction) Experiment (lab; independent vs. dependent variable) Data (numbers, graph) Conclusion (my hypothesis was right or wrong) Writing a report

A lab report has: Title Materials Purpose Background information (it depends on the lab) Hypothesis (it depends on the lab) Procedure Data Conclusion