1. The Scientific Method

2. What is the Scientific Method?
A process used to find the answers to questions we have about the world around us.

3. Step 1: State the Purpose
The reason why we are performing the experiment
THINK: Why are we performing our paper towel experiment?
To determine if Bounty paper towel is more absorbent than the leading brand

4. Step 2: Make a Hypothesis
This is an educated guess as to what the outcome of your experiment will be.
Written as an IF …THEN…BECAUSE statement.
THINK: IF I do this experiment, THEN I think (can measure-DATA) the following change BECAUSE….
EXAMPLE: IF I test 3 different brands of paper towel, THEN I think that Bounty will absorb the most water BECAUSE the ads say so.

5. You Must Identify Your Variables
A variable is any factor that can change in an experiment.
(IF)
Independent Variable – one thing that the scientist changes to make the experiment
THINK: What are we changing in our experiment?
Brand of paper towel
(Data)
Dependent Variable - what the scientist measures as a result of the changes made (will be written as DATA)
THINK: What are we measuring in our experiment?
# of drops each paper towel absorbs
Control Group -The group not directly being tested but is needed for comparison
THINK: What is the control group in our experiment?
Generic Brand of Paper towel

6. Step 3: List the Materials
A list of all the tools you will need to carry out your experiment.

7. Step 4: Develop a Procedure
Develop the steps for your experiment including all of the variables.
Step 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Step 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Step 3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

8. Step 5: Collect Data
Follow the steps in your procedure and record your facts, figures, and observations!
Your results can be displayed in a
table,
graph,
drawing,
paragraph, etc.

9. Step 6: Write a Conclusion
Summarize what was learned from your experiment.
State whether or not your hypothesis was supported or rejected.
It should also discuss:
Why the results are important
What you could do to make the experiment better
Any sources of experimental error

10. Step 7: Communicate Your Results
Share your findings in a formal way.
This could be done by:
writing a lab report
creating a poster
giving an oral presentation.

11. It’s time to use the Scientific Method!!!
GET READY…
It’s time to use the Scientific Method!!!