1. The
Scientific Method

2. The Scientific Method is a way to ask and answer questions by making observations and doing experiments.

3. Steps of
the
Scientific Method

4. Experiment (Design, Materials, Procedure)
Scientific Method
Purpose/Question
Research
Hypothesis
Experiment (Design, Materials, Procedure)
Analysis
Conclusion

5. Purpose / Question Written as a question
Tells what your experiment is about
Has the 1 variable you are testing

6. How does the wingspan of a paper airplane affect how far it goes?

7. Research About your topic Helps you make an educated guess
From books, articles, experts, scientific internet sites
Written as a paragraph with at least 5 sentences and 5 facts

8. Do you remember the next step?

9. Hypothesis Educated Guess Answers your Purpose Question
“My hypothesis is …” or “I think …”

10. Experimental Design Independent Variable Dependent Variable
Variable that is changed in the experiment
Dependent Variable
Responds to change made by independent variable
Controlled Variables
Variables do not change in the experiment
Control Group
The group in which the independent variable is not present or is in its normal state.

11. Independent Variable (IV)
Variable that is changed in the experiment
Ask yourself “What is being tested?”

12. Dependent Variable (DV)
Responds to change made by independent variable
Ask yourself “What is being measured?”

13. Controlled Variable Variables do not change in the experiment
Ask yourself “What is being kept the same?”

14. Control Group
The group in which the independent variable is not present or is in its normal state.
Ask yourself “What are the experiment results being compared with?”

15. Example Marcus has 3 pots on a stove:
Pot with salt water
Pot with sugar water
Pot with water
He lights a fire underneath each one, and times how long it takes each pot to boil.
What is the IV, DV, Controlled Variables, and Control Group?

16. Example Independent Variable (IV) – the pots of different waters
Dependent Variable (DV) - how long it takes each pot to boil
Controlled Variables – same stove, same temperature, same size pot, etc
Control Group – pot with regular water

17. Experiment - Materials
List of items used in experiment
Specific and detailed

18. Experiment - Procedure
Step by step directions for the experiment (like a recipe)
Numbered
Begins with a verb

19. Analysis Shows what happened in your experiment
Can be a table, graph, photographs, drawings, or detailed notes

20. Analysis

21. Analysis

22. Conclusion Summary of experimental results
“My hypothesis was (correct or incorrect)”
“The results of this experiment are useful”
“This investigation can be improved by”
“Other questions that need to be answered are”