The Scientific Method

What is the Scientific Method? Who uses it? Pretty much everyone What is it? It is a way to better understand and solve problems. Focuses us to use a validated process

The steps of the Scientific Method are: Question/ Problem Research Information Hypothesis Experiment Procedure/Materials Observations/Data Conclusion

Scientists develop a question about a problem Scientists develop a question about a problem. They need to be very specific in defining what they are trying to explain or solve. Trying to answer more then 1 question can be difficult. Stick to 1 specific question for now…

Research Information Next gather information about the problem/question. They can use: books magazines reports experts your past experiences or prior knowledge

Develop a Hypothesis What is a hypothesis? -what you think the answer is based upon your gathered information and prior knowledge -an educated guess -a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation

Design Experiment The next step scientists take is to create and conduct an experiment to test their hypothesis. This should include a materials list and a procedure with step-by-step directions.

Every experiment has variables Every experiment has variables! This is actually how we narrow down the possibilities to approach the truth - A variable is anything that changes or could change in an experiment. - Three types of variables in an experiment. - Can you name them?

Three types of variables: Independent variable ~ the scientist changes this variable 2. Dependent variable ~ part of the experiment that changes as a result of some other action, it is measured 3. Constant ~ the part of the experiment that is not changed by the scientist

Scientist have to take the time to think logically when they are investigating a question or problem. They break things down into many steps that hopefully make sense. They must refrain from preconceived bias

Observations A key to experiments is observing what happens and writing it down. Try to be aware of everything that is going on, collect data, don’t think about outcomes now…wait till the following.. It may be charts, graphs, or written work. Gathering information or data and documenting it so it is readable and makes sense to others is really important. This is WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!

You should never do just an n of 1 (only 1 experiment) Typically, you should run the exact same experiment at least three times (in the same day if possible and using same exact materials and procedures). This is to determine the reproducibility of the results. This is really what we call verification, or checking things out to make sure everything was valid and will happen again and again. Finally Plan and Expect Failure (i.e the experiment did not turn out the way I thought.) My experience is we learn a lot more from these failures than our success.

Don’t Give Up, keep trying if you really believe Don’t Give Up, keep trying if you really believe. Sisyphus was a Greek who challenged a god and was sentenced to roll up a big boulder up a steep hill……. But every time he got to the top with the boulder it would roll down the hill…. But he kept doing it over and over again. As a scientist, you have to expect you will have more failures then successes. I believe we learn more from our failures then our successes. They force us to think about it; this should give us focus and drive to keep working on it.