2. The Scientific Method is a process that is used to find answers to questions about the world around us.

3. Is there only one “scientific method”? No, there are several versions. Some have more/fewer steps but they all begin with problem or question and provide an organized method of conducting the experiment.

4. 1. Problem/Question 2. Research 3. State the Hypothesis 4. Design an Experiment 5. Conduct Experiment and Record Data 6. Analyze Data/Results 7. Conclusion 8. Communicate the Results

5. Steps of the Scientific Method Problem/Question 1. Problem/Question: Identify a testable question (tests one variable at a time) that can be investigated.

6. Steps of the Scientific Method Research 2. Research: Research information about the topic.

7. Do you remember the next step?

8. Steps of the Scientific Method State the Hypothesis 3. State the Hypothesis: State the hypothesis as a predicted answer to the question, what may be the possible outcome of the investigation Example: If soil temperatures rise, then plant growth will increase.

9. Steps of the Scientific Method 4.Design an experiment 4.Design an experiment: To test the hypothesis, controlling all variables except the independent variable Plan for independent and dependent variables with repeated trials Plan for factors that should be held constant (controlled variables) and/or plan for a control setup List the materials needed to conduct the experiment List the procedures to be followed Plan for recording, organizing and analyzing data

10. Steps of the Scientific Method 4.Design an experiment 4.Design an experiment: An investigation may involve a sample, or a portion of the total number, as a type of estimation. –The sample is used to take a representative portion of the objects or population for research. –A poorly chosen sample size can be unrepresentative of the whole. –Careful observations made from a proper sample size or manipulating variables within that sample size result in information and conclusions that might apply to the whole population.

11. Steps of the Scientific Method Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: 5. Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: tables, graphs, or charts Data- includes both scientific observations and inferences.

12. A scientific observation is gained by carefully identifying and describing properties using the five senses or scientific tools and can be classified as quantitative or qualitative. –Quantitative observations are observations that use numbers (amounts) or measurements(including the unit label) or observations that make relative comparisons, such as more than, all, less than, few, or none. –Qualitative observations are observations that are made using only the senses and refer to specific properties.

13. An inference is an explanation or interpretation of an observation based on prior experiences or supported by observations made in the investigation. –They are not final explanations of the observation. –There may be several logical inferences for a given observation. –There is no way to be sure which inference best explains the observation without further investigation.

14. Steps of the Scientific Method Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: 5. Conduct Experiment and Collect Data:Trials- number of times the experiment is repeated. repeated trials is needed for validity

15. Steps of the Scientific Method Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: 5. Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: Ex. Observation or Inference? Grape juice causes stains on white fabric. The height of a plant is 21.3 cm. The temperature of the water in the pond is 17 ⁰ C. Heat speeds up chemical reactions.

16. Steps of the Scientific Method Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: 5. Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: Control Group- In a scientific experiment, the control is the group that serves as the standard of comparison. The control group may be a “no treatment" or an “experimenter selected” group. (placebo group)

17. Steps of the Scientific Method Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: 5. Conduct Experiment and Collect Data:Constant- Objects in the experiment that are the same for both the experimental and the control group.

18. Steps of the Scientific Method Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: 5. Conduct Experiment and Collect Data: Sample- Sample- portion of the total number –Representative portion of the objects or population of research –Poorly chosen sample size can be unrepresentative causing the experiment to not be valid

19. Steps of the Scientific Method Analyze the Data:6. Analyze the Data: in the tables, graphs, or charts to figure out what the data means (describe the relationship between the variables)

20. Steps of the Scientific Method Conclusion or Modification7. Conclusion or Modification: Compare the results to the hypothesis and write a conclusion that will support or not support the hypothesis based on the recorded data

21. A valid conclusion can then be written and should include: –The relationship between the independent variable and dependent variables based on the recorded data, and –Whether the hypothesis was supported or not supported.

22. Steps of the Scientific Method Communicate the Results 8. Communicate the Results: Be prepared to present the project to an audience. Expect questions from the audience.

23. Think you can name all eight steps? Problem/QuestionResearch State a Hypothesis Design the Experiment Conduct Experiment and Record Data Analyze Data Conclusion Communicate Results

24. After it’s all over… Questions that can help decide what further investigations may be: –Can the procedure or product be improved? –What would happen if another independent variable were tested? –What are you wondering now?

25. Let’s put our knowledge of the Scientific Method to a realistic example that includes some of the terms you’ll be needing to use and understand.

26. Problem/Question John watches his grandmother bake bread. He ask his grandmother what makes the bread rise. She explains that yeast releases a gas as it feeds on sugar.

27. Problem/Question John wonders if the amount of sugar used in the recipe will affect the size of the bread loaf.

28. Caution! Be careful how you use effect and affect. Effect is usually a noun and affect, a verb. “ The effect of sugar amounts on the rising of bread.” “How does sugar affect the rising of bread?”

29. Observation/Research John researches the areas of baking and fermentation and tries to come up with a way to test his question. He keeps all of his information on this topic in a journal.

30. John talks with his teacher and she gives him a Experimental Design Diagram to help him set up his investigation.

32. State the Hypothesis After talking with his teacher and conducting further research, he comes up with a hypothesis. “If more sugar is added, then the bread will rise higher.”

33. Hypothesis The hypothesis is an educated guess about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Note: These variables will be defined in the next few slides.

34. Do you know the difference between the independent and dependent variables?

35. Independent Variable The independent, or manipulated variable, is a factor that’s intentionally varied by the experimenter. John is going to use 25g., 50g., 100g., 250g., 500g. of sugar in his experiment.

36. Dependent Variable The dependent, or responding variable, is the factor that may change as a result of changes made in the independent variable. In this case, it would be the size of the loaf of bread.

37. Experiment His teacher helps him come up with a procedure and list of needed materials. She discusses with John how to determine the control group.

38. Control Group In a scientific experiment, the control is the group that serves as the standard of comparison. The control group may be a “no treatment" or an “experimenter selected” group.

39. Control Group The control group is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group, except for the variable being tested. All experiments should have a control group.

40. Control Group Because his grandmother always used 50g. of sugar in her recipe, John is going to use that amount in his control group.

41. Constants John’s teacher reminds him to keep all other factors the same so that any observed changes in the bread can be attributed to the variation in the amount of sugar.

42. Constants The constants in an experiment are all the factors that the experimenter attempts to keep the same.

43. Can you think of some constants for this experiment?

44. Constants They might include: - Other ingredients to the bread recipe, -oven used, -rise time, -brand of ingredients, -cooking time, -type of pan used, -air temperature and humidity where the bread was rising, -oven temperature, -age of the yeast…

45. Experiment John writes out his procedure for his experiment along with a materials list in his journal. He has both of these checked by his teacher where she checks for any safety concerns.

46. Trials Trials refer to replicate groups that are exposed to the same conditions in an experiment. John is going to test each sugar variable 3 times.

47. Collect and Analyze Results John comes up with a table he can use to record his data. John gets all his materials together and carries out his experiment.

48. Size of Baked Bread (LxWxH) cm 3 Amt. of Sugar (g.) 123Average Size (cm 3 ) 25768744761758 501296118812961260 10011881080 1116 250672576588612 500432504360432 Size of Bread Loaf (cm 3 ) Trials Control group

49. Collect and Analyze Results John examines his data and notices that his control worked the best in this experiment, but not significantly better than 100g. of sugar.

50. Conclusion John rejects his hypothesis, but decides to re-test using sugar amounts between 50g. and 100g.

51. Experiment Once again, John gathers his materials and carries out his experiment. Here are the results.

52. Can you tell which group did the best?

53. Size of Baked Bread (LxWxH) cm 3 Amt. of Sugar (g.) 123Average Size (cm 3 ) 501296144012961344 601404129614401380 701638 15601612 8014041296 1332 90108012009721084 Size of Bread Loaf (cm 3 ) Trials Control group

54. Conclusion John finds that 70g. of sugar produces the largest loaf. His hypothesis is accepted.

55. Communicate the Results John tells his grandmother about his findings and prepares to present his project in Science class.