The Scientific Method

What does it mean? It’s the way scientists do their work. It’s the way scientists do their work. It involves doing experiments. It involves doing experiments. It helps us discover the TRUTH! It helps us discover the TRUTH! It is very powerful. It is very powerful. Write down five things that wouldn’t have been invented if it wasn’t for science. Write down five things that wouldn’t have been invented if it wasn’t for science.

What does it involve? 1. Coming up with an idea. 2. Getting some funding. 3. Doing experiments. 4. Publishing your work. 5. Attending conferences. 6. Getting more funding.

Doing experiments… There are good and bad experiments. There are good and bad experiments. You need to learn how to do good ones. You need to learn how to do good ones. Good ones can be repeated by other scientists. The results should be similar to yours. Good ones can be repeated by other scientists. The results should be similar to yours. Good ones are clear and free of bias. Good ones are clear and free of bias.

The steps to a good experiment… Step 1. Start with an observation. Step 1. Start with an observation. You observe something that makes you wonder. For example: Why are things louder under water? Why are things louder under water? You sneeze when you look at the sun? You sneeze when you look at the sun? Why is the sky blue? Why is the sky blue? Why are most guys ring finger longer than their index finger but girls aren’t? Why are most guys ring finger longer than their index finger but girls aren’t?

The steps to a good experiment… Step 2. Write a Hypothesis Keep it simple. Keep it simple. Two variables only. Two variables only. Must be testable. Must be testable. 1. ‘Exercise increases heart rate.’ 2. ‘Sugar dissolves slower in cold water 3. ‘Salmon spawn when the sea temperature drops.’

The steps to a good experiment… Step 3. Design the experiment. Controlled variables. Controlled variables. How many groups? How many groups? How big are the groups? How big are the groups? What gear do I need? What gear do I need? How do I record my results? How do I record my results?

The steps to a good experiment… Step 4. Write a prediction. What results do you expect? What results do you expect? Link it to your procedure. Link it to your procedure. ‘After five minutes of exercise heart rate will increase by 10 beats per minute.’

The steps to a good experiment… Step 5. Order your equipment. Choose appropriate equipment. What does this mean?

The steps to a good experiment… Step 6. Carry out the experiment. 1. Collect data. 2. Take careful measurements. 3. Use large samples. 4. Repeat the experiment. 5. Take averages.

The steps to a good experiment… Step 7. Draw inferences. These are interpretations of your data. For example, if you see that the heart beat figures don’t go up in the group after exercise then your data DOES NOT support the hypothesis.

The steps to a good experiment… Step 8. Write a conclusion… Refer to your hypothesis at the start. Refer to your hypothesis at the start. Describe how you could improve your experiment. Describe how you could improve your experiment. Make suggestions for further research. Make suggestions for further research. Cite your references. Cite your references.

Easy? Easy?