1. The Scientific Method

2. Steps to the Scientific Method (PRHEAD)
Problem State the problem
Research
Hypothesis form a hypothesis
Experiment design & conduct experiment
Analyze Collected Data
Draw Conclusion support or reject hypothesis

3. P-Problem  State the Problem
Gives you a reason for doing the experiment
This question MUST be testable/measurable
Ex: Which car oil will allow my car to get the best gas mileage?

4. Process It…Testable or Not?
Do cats make better pets than dogs?

5. Process It…Testable or Not?
How do different types of movement/activity affect human heart rate?

6. Process It…Which is testable?
Which is the tastiest soda?
How many people will choose Dr. Pepper over Coke?

7. R-Research
In order to make an educated guess (hypothesis), you need to find out more information about the problem you are trying to solve.
Ex: research various oils and their properties.

8. H-Hypothesis  form a hypothesis
A hypothesis is an educated guess about the solution to your problem based on your research.
This is done with an “if / then” statement. .
Ex: If I use Havoline car oil then my Lamborghini Diablo will get better gas mileage.

9. Hypothesis MUST be:
Testable/ Fact-based-“Dr. Pepper is the tastiest soda” is not fact-based, it’s based on opinion, and therefore can not be a hypothesis.
A sentence, not a question!!

10. Process It…Testable or Not?
If I use Havoline car oil then it will be better than Mobile Oil.

11. Process It…Testable or Not?
If I use Havoline car oil then my Lamborghini Diablo will get better gas mileage.

12. E-Experiment  Design and conduct experiment
This is done to test the hypothesis.
Design an experiment that will provide data to support or reject your hypothesis.
Ex: Test four different car oils found during research

13. Parts of an Experiment
Independent Variable – The part of an experiment that you change.
EX: car oil
Dependent Variable- What you are recording/observing. It changes according to how the independent variable changes
Ex: gas mileage
ONLY test one variable at a time!!!!!!!!!!

14. Parts of an Experiment
Constant variables- quantities that remain constant (the same) aka “controlled variables”
Ex: same car, same road
Control group- what is used to COMPARE the results to. It is the variable in which no independent variable has been applied.
Ex: test run with the original brand of oil in the car

15. A-Analyze Collected Data
Observations are recorded facts about what you see during the experiment.
Graph: IV’s go on the x-axis
DV’s go on y-axis

16. D-Draw Conclusion  Support or reject hypothesis
This is a brief statement about the results of the experiment.
In the conclusion state if the hypothesis was correct (supported) or incorrect (rejected).
Claim, evidence, reasoning

17. TYPES OF DATA

18. Observation or Inference
Observation- See with own eyes (ex; the apple is red, it is raining outside, the window is 6ft long
Inference: What you think might be true but not sure.
(ex: She is wiping her eyes, she is crying, He has hair on his shirt, he owns a cat)

19. Types of Observations Qualitative – Results are descriptive.
ex: the litmus paper turned red
Quantitative – Results are numerical and have a unit.
ex: 5 meters, 45 seconds

20. Accuracy vs Precision Accuracy- nearness to the actual value
Precision- how close the data is together

21. Precise, but not accurate
Accuracy and precision: the target example
Precise, but not accurate 21

22. Accuracy and precision: the target example
Accurate, not precise 22

23. Neither accurate, nor precise
Accuracy and precision: the target example
Neither accurate, nor precise 23

24. Accuracy and precision: the target example
Accurate and precise 24