Scientific Method

I. Title: Name of the activity II. Purpose or Problem: To state what you plan to do in the activity, sometimes identifying your independent and dependent variables.

III. Background information: Information researched in the library or on the Internet on the subject. This usually will be given to you in your book before the lab or you may find it in the chapter (usually about a paragraph).

IV. Hypothesis: To predict the outcome of an activity in a testable cause and effect relationship. ( If this happens, then this will happen) IV. Hypothesis: To predict the outcome of an activity in a testable cause and effect relationship. ( If this happens, then this will happen) V. Materials: a list of all items or equipment that will be used in the activity.

VI. Procedures: step by step everything you do to test your hypothesis; such that someone else could follow and repeat the activity. A. Variable: any changes in the activity  Independent Variable: changes that occur but do not rely on the activity in order to change. Also called manipulating variable. (MIX : always placed on the X-axis) (Cause)

 Dependent Variable: changes that do rely on the activity in order to change. This is what you are testing. Also called responding variable. (DRY: always placed on the y-axis). (Effect)

B. Data: all information collected in the activity. C. Two Groups: Experimental Group: the part of the activity that changes due to what you are testing.Experimental Group: the part of the activity that changes due to what you are testing. Control Group: the part of the experiment that remains unchanged. This group is used to compare your results to the experimental group. Can also be called controlled variables.Control Group: the part of the experiment that remains unchanged. This group is used to compare your results to the experimental group. Can also be called controlled variables.

D. A Controlled Experiment is one that tests only one thing at a time. VII. Analyzing Data or Analyzing Results: This is when you draw tables and graphs to organize your data and state the results. Do not explain the results here.

VIII. Conclusion: This is when you explain your results. Was the hypothesis supported by the activity or not? If not, try to explain what could have happened for your results not to have turned out like you thought. Also answer how you could have made the activity better or more accurate. State what you learned from doing the activity and the benefits of your results for either now or in the future. (In a normal lab, the scientists would repeat the activity several times, and then they would send it to other scientists all over the world. After all scientists all over the world agree on the findings, then a Theory will be made.)

IX. Theory: A well tested explanation that is supported by a range of observations. (This is similar to a Scientific Law, except that Theories can be changed based on new information; whereas, Scientific Laws are not generally changed.)