1. Scientific Method
Notes

2. Scientific Method
A series of procedures that can help acquire new knowledge or confirm known facts
It is the purpose of doing an experiment
Must be stated in a question
Why, how, what
Must be testable

3. Scientific Method: Observation
1) Observe
Pick a topic
Write a testable question
Write a background research question

4. Scientific Method: Research
Think of what you need to understand before you do your experiment, research everything you can to help you understand about the topic
Find out what other scientists have learned about this topic or what their experiments have shown
This is in essay form
Must give credit (attach a bibliography)

5. Scientific Method:Hypothesis
3) Write your hypothesis
An testable explanation to your question
Based on past observations, knowledge, or research
No personal pronouns (I, my, we, our)
Identify your independent variable, dependent variable, and the constants (not complete sentences)
Independent Variable (IV) – what I (the scientist) change
Dependent Variable (DV) – what is the outcome, what is being measured, what I want to know
Constant Variables (CV) – everything else, it all stays the same
Use the If (IV), then (DV) format
Hypothesis must be a complete sentence

6. Scientific Method: Experiment
4) Plan out and conduct your experiment
Gather all the materials you will need
Write out all the steps, or read all the steps carefully
These can be either in sentences or numbered steps
But not in a paragraph
Follow them as precisely as possible

7. Scientific Method: Data
5) Gather your data
Make observations using qualitative and quantitative data
Qualitative = 5 senses
Quantitative = numbers, measurements
Measure carefully and run many tests (at least 3)

8. Scientific Method: Graphing
Go through the data collected and organize it into one or more graphs
Independent Variable (IV) goes on the X axis
Dependent Variable (DV) goes one the Y axis

9. Scientific Method: Conclusion
6) Communicate Results
Write a closure to communicate
Restate your hypothesis
Tell if it was right or wrong
Explain your observations
If things didn’t go as planned, state why or your predictions on why
This is in paragraph form

10. Scientific Method 1) Observe/ Topic 2) Research 3) Hypothesis
4) Plan and conduct your experiment
5) Gather data
6) Communicate Results