1. Scientific Method

2. Main Ideas
What is the scientific method? It is a PROCESS that is used to FIND ANSWERS to questions about the world around us.
Different versions, with fewer or more STEPS
All are an ORGANIZED METHOD to conduct and analyze an experiment

3. The Method Identify the PROBLEM OR QUESTION Form a HYPOTHESIS
Create/perform and EXPERIMENT
ANALYZE the data
Is your data inaccurate, or the experiment flawed?
MODIFY THE EXPERIMENT as needed
COMMUNICATE the results

4. Experimental Design
It is important that we only test, or change, ONE thing at a time, so that we are very sure that what we are observing can be explained by what we changed.
The CONTROL group has NO changes; it is what we compare to.
The EXPERIMENTAL group is the group we change.
The INDEPENDENT variable is what we change
The DEPENDENT variable is what changed BECAUSE of our change or experiment

5. Experimental Design
Example: The temperature of water is measured at different depths in a lake IV: DV:

6. Types of Data OBSERVATIONS: sensory data gathered during an experiment
INFERENCES: conclusions/deductions based on observations
THEORY: statement, based on experiments evidence, that predicts the likelihood of future observations

7. Types of Data Practice: Observations: I hear people screaming
I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers
I see a lot of people
Inference:
Theory: There will be a lot of noise at all carnivals

8. Look at these two sets of animal tracks.
List 3 OBSERVATIONS
Make an INFERENCE

9. Now what do you think?
Make 3 OBSERVATIONS
Make an INFERENCE

10. Now what do you think? Make a THEORY Make 3 OBSERVATIONS
Make an INFERENCE

11. To Do’s Save Sam! Dictionary
Independent variable; dependent variable; fact; theory; inference; observation