SCIENTIFIC METHOD

1. MAKING OBSERVATIONS Be sure to make SPECIFIC observations, the more detailed the better. NUMERICAL DATA IS A GREAT SOURCE FOR OBSERVATIONS

2. ASK A QUESTION Make sure the question is testable. How will you report the data?

3. FORM A HYPOTHESIS We form hypothesis everyday when we say “I bet this happens” Scientist write up their hypothesis in a specific way by using an IF…. THEN … BECAUSE…. Statement A hypothesis is a prediction of what will happen

4. CREATE A CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT Make sure you know what you want to test for and how you are going to report your data. Need to have a CONTROL group and an EXPERIMENTAL group CONTROL GROUP- nothing is changed in the experiment. Use this to compare your data to the experimental group. EXPERIMENTAL GROUP- everything is kept the same as the control group EXCEPT for ONE factor called the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

VARIABLES INDEPENDENT VARIABLE- the ONE thing you change from the control group- hopefully this will cause a change in results from the control. (examples are amount of water, sunlight, fertilizer) It is called the independent variable because it is independent of the control group DEPENDENT VARIABLE- the change in results due to the independent variable. It is called the dependent variable because it depends on the independent variable to get results (Examples are height, weight, speed)

5. ANALYZING AND REPORTING DATA Scientists must be completely unbiased when reporting data. It is much better to give numerical data called QUANTITAVE DATA (examples are charts or graphs) then subjective data called QUALITATIVE DATA (examples are what you observed)

6. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS Was your hypothesis right or wrong? Can the information you gathered be used to set up a MODEL which is supported by your data. (examples are equations in physics, and Punnett squares in Genetics) Can you make any INFERENCES- conclusions made on the basis of facts rather than direct observations- (examples taking the facts you know then applying it elsewhere) You see smoke in the sky and INFER that there must be a fire somewhere.

THEORY A theory in Science is not just a “wild- guess.” It is backed up by lots of evidence and has yet to be proven wrong by anyone. THEORIES in science are very strong and there are very few of the them in science. (Atomic theory, cell theory)

Assignment Using your question set up an experiment. Include the following: HYPOTHESIS Rundown of the experiment including control groups and experimental groups. Also include the independent and dependent variables. The types of data you will collect including Quantitative and Qualitative.