2. 1 SCIENTIFIC METHOD systematic approach to problem solving *distinguishes science from other subjects

3. 2 PARTS OF AN EXPERIMENT Problem Hypothesis Materials Experimental Procedure Data (recorded and analyzed) Conclusion Validity

4. 3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION During the course of a year, a veterinary office started to observe many cats in the clinic being healthy, but in a matter of hours, the cats are scratching and chewing at their skin. The veterinarian decides that something in the cats’ surroundings or their food might be irritating their skin. After doing some simple gathering of information (owners and observations), the vets tend to notice that the cats seem to scratch most after using the litter boxes. Most owners use litter that does not contain deodorants, but this office does.

5. 4 PROBLEM question you (scientist) are trying to answer. Does the type of litter cause cats to have skin irritation?

6. 5 HYPOTHESIS “educated guess” based on previous knowledge. If the litter does not have any deodorant, then the cats will be less irritated.

7. 6 VARIABLES Independent –what “you” change in the experiment OR what is being tested Type of cat litter Dependent –what is measured or observed. Amount of times scratching

8. 7 MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT  Cats (2)  Two types of litter (deodorized, no deodorant  Two different cages

9. 8 SPECIAL VARIABLES CONTROL –An experiment done without what is being tested  Litter without deodorant CONTROLLED VARIABLES or CONSTANTS –Things that stay the same for the entire experiment  Cats without irritation  Size of litter box  Amount of litter  Time (one week)

10. 9 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE specific, step by step directions Two cats with irritation were separated into two different cages. 1.Deodorant free litter (control experiment) 2.Deodorized litter Observe both cats for one week. Collect data on how often cats scratch or chew skin Check if irritation is less

11. 10 DATA Recorded measurements or observations

12. 11 Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5 Deodorized Litter (Cat 1) 1025354050 Non- Deodorized Litter (Cat 2) 101291510 The Number of Times Cats Scratched or Chewed Their Skin

13. 12 CONCLUSION Paragraph that answers the question “you” are asking. (What was learned from the experiment or test?)  Restate the problem (What were you trying to figure out in this experiment?)  Talk about the hypothesis (What was your hypothesis and was it correct or incorrect?)  State data (Give examples of data that prove or disprove your hypothesis)  Answer the problem question

14. 13 VALIDITY Statements that are made to support or reject your conclusion. Do your results seem accurate? (Why or Why not?) Could this experiment have been done better? (What could have been done differently to get better results?