1. The Scientific Method
Ms MacCormack
Fall 2017

2. What is the Scientific Method?
It is a systematic method used to solve a problem.

3. Steps of the Scientific Method
1. State the Problem
2. Conduct Research
3. State a Hypothesis
4. Design and conduct an Experiment
5. Collect and Analyze Data
6. Draw Conclusion
7. Share and Compare

4. Problem
A question you may have that can be answered by doing an experiment
Needs to be objective  Not your personal opinion

5. Research
Gather information about the problem to find out what is already known.

6. Hypothesis Possible solution to the problem
Stated as an “If, then” statement

7. Experiment Done to test the hypothesis
Only tests one variable at a time
A good experiment has two groups:
Control Group
Experimental Group

8. Collect and Analyze Data
Recorded during an experiment in a data table
Analyzed with a graph

9. Conclusion Does the data support or reject the hypothesis?
We NEVER prove anything in science!!! We only have data/evidence to support.

10. Share and Compare Tell others
Could be in the form of a lab report or it could be published in a scientific article.

11. Variables

12. Types of Variables There are two types of variables:
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable

13. The Independent Variable
Things “I” change in an experiment
Cause
X-axis
Left column of a data table
If part of “If, then” statement

14. The Dependent Variable
Outcome, measurement, observation
Effect
Y-axis
Right column of a data table
Then part of an “If, then” statement

15. Experimental Design

16. Control Group Group that is NOT tested Gets “normal” treatment
Used as comparison/reference

17. Experimental Group Group that IS tested
Only test ONE variable per group

18. Variables

19. Controlled Variables
Things that are kept the same in all groups.

20. Independent Variable
Things “I” change
Cause

21. Dependent Variable
Outcome
What you are measuring
Effect