Scientific Method

 Scientific method- the way scientists learn and study the world around them.  Testable question- question that can be answered by designing and conducting an experiment  Constant- what stays the same in an experiment  Qualitative- use your senses to observe  Quantitative- observations made with instruments, measurable Vocabulary

 Dependent variable: is what will be measured; it's what the investigator thinks will be affected during the experiment  Example: Amount of mold that grows  Independent variable: is what is varied during the experiment; it is what the investigator thinks will affect the dependent variable  Example: Locations of Bread  Controlled- The constant variable  Example: the bread Vocabulary Cont.

 *State the problem in the form of a testable question  *Research/gather information  *Form a hypothesis  *Perform an experiment  *Collect and Analyze Data  *Draw conclusions Steps to Scientific Method

 Some – State the Problem  Rats – Research the Topic  Hate - Hypothesize  Eating - Experiment  Dead – Data Collection  Chicken - Conclusion “Simple Version”

 State the problem- What problem do you want to solve? The problem must be something you can measure. 1. State the problem in the form of a testable question

 Research- Use the library, internet, observations  Find the best way to obtain accurate data and information. Research/Gather Information

Hypothesize- an educated guess/prediction about how things work. * This should be in an if/then statement.  Construct a hypothesis in a way that’s easily measured. Form a Hypothesis

 Experiment- should test whether your hypothesis is true or false.  Only one factor at a time should change while you keep all other conditions the same.  You should repeat your experiment several times to make sure that the first results weren’t just an accident. Perform an Experiment

 Data collection- collect your measurements and analyze them to see if your hypothesis is true or false. Collect and Analyze Data

 Conclusion- use your data to sum up your findings, test again or make a new hypothesis  If your hypothesis was false, you would modify/create a new one based on the data collected.  You need to start the process all over again to test your new hypothesis.  If your hypothesis was true, you may want to test it again in a new way to make sure your results are consistent. Draw Conclusions