1. Introduction to Science: The Scientific Method

2. What is Science?
The knowledge obtained by observing natural events and conditions in order to discover facts and formulate laws or principles that can be verified or tested.

3. What is the Scientific Method?
Step-by-step way in which scientists answer questions.
1. Ask a question.
2. Research the topic.
3. Form a hypothesis.
4. Test the Hypothesis.
5. Gather Data.
6. Analyze Results.
7. Draw Conclusions.
8. Communicate Results.

4. Purpose Identify what it is you are looking for
What is the question you want to answer?
State the problem in the form of a question:
How does __________ affect _______?
What is the effect of _______ on ________?

5. Research Write down all information you already know
Do research on the topic you are investigating
Ask experts on the subject you are researching
If you find an answer to your problem/question you do not need to move on

6. Hypothesis an educated guess (If, Then )
What do you think will happen?
i.e. What is the effect of cigarette smoke on household plants?
Hypothesis: If I test to see how cigarette smoke affects household plants, then it will

7. Equipment List what equipment will be needed to conduct the experiment
List all materials needed for the experiment

8. Safety
List the safety precautions specific to the experiment (if any)

9. Method/Procedure
List the exact steps that are required to carry out the experiment
The steps should be followed the exact same way regardless of who conducts the experiment
At this point, independent variable(s), dependent variable(s), and control variable(s) should be listed

10. Method: How do you test a hypothesis?
Develop a test to support or not support your hypothesis (This is your experiment).
Must be run multiple times
Must have only 1 independent variable (the factor being tested)
Must include 2 setups:
Experimental setup
Control setup

11. Method: How do you test a hypothesis?
Use a Controlled Experiment
tests only one factor at a time
comparison of a control group and an experimental group.
Control Group
The group that the scientist changes nothing in
Used for comparison
Experimental Group
The group that the scientist has changed something. It is the variable in the experiment where you want to see how this condition affects something.

12. What is a variable?
A variable is something that can change, either naturally or on purpose. ***
A factor that is different from one group to another
Independent variable
The factor that the scientist has changed in order to test the hypothesis (on purpose). It is the cause.
Dependent Variable
The result of what the scientist changed. It is the effect of what happened in the experiment.

13. What are constants?
They are what the scientist kept the same in both the control group and the experimental group.

14. Observations
Notes on the things that were observed (noticed) during the experiment
Notes on any changes regarding the method (if any)
A. Qualitative
Sight (colours, shapes)
Hearing (pitch, volume)
Touch
Smell (use wafting)
Taste *NEVER taste in the lab without permission*
B . Quantitative
(number observations with units: length width, capacity, volume)

15. Conclusion/Results
Tell if your hypothesis was correct or incorrect, and explain all of your data/results. If your hypothesis was incorrect, discuss what might have caused it to be so.
List at least two extensions. Explain what you could have done differently or what you would try if you did the experiment again (Possibly a different variable to test)
Explain at least two concepts you learned from conducting your experiment