1. Scientific Method

2. Steps of the Scientific Method
People Really Hate Elephants On Compact Cars
Problem – The “thing” that you want to know.
Research – Information about the problem. What is already known?

3. Steps of the Scientific Method
People Really Hate Elephants On Compact Cars
Hypothesis – Educated quess, or prediction of the outcome of the experiment. This guess can be tested by performing an experiment.
Experiment – Tests the hypothesis

4. Steps of the Scientific Method
People Really Hate Elephants On Compact Cars
Observations – Data you collect during the experiment.
Conclusions – Determine if the hypothesis is correct or not.

5. Steps of the Scientific Method
People Really Hate Elephants On Compact Cars
7. Communicate – Present your results in a talk or a paper

6. Problem:
Research:
Hypothesis:
Experiment:
Observation:
Conclusion:
Communicate:
Do mice grow larger if given Vitamin C?
Learn about mice, their diet and vitamin C.
If mice are given vitamin C, then they will grow larger.
Two groups of mice – one gets vitamin C, one does not
Weigh mice after 2 weeks – both groups are the same size.
Hypothesis is not correct (rejected)
Present your results

7. Identify the Variables
Manipulated or Independent Variable (IV)?
Responding or Dependent Variable (DV)?
Control Group-treated “normally”
Experimental Group (IV is changed for this group)
Constants
Conclusion
- Get Vitamin C or no Vitamin C
- Weight of mice
- Mice with no Vitamin C
- Mice with Vitamin C
- Same mice (genetically identical), same food (except for Vitamin C), same weight scale, same cage conditions, same time frame…
- Accept or Refect the Hypothesis