1. Scientific Method

2. What is the scientific method?
A process of gathering facts through observation and formulating scientific hypotheses.

3. Step 1
State the problem
Scientists have a question that they want answered. “Do plants grow taller in the presence of sunlight?”

4. Step 2 Research the problem.
Find as much information about the problem as possible
“ find out about different types of plants, soil, pots”

5. Step 3 Make a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess.
Make a statement based on your prior knowledge or research as to what you think the answer to your question is.
“If a plant grows in sunlight, then it will be taller than other plants.”

6. Step 4
Procedure
Design the experiment. Write out a series of steps (directions) and get necessary materials.
Ex: 2 plants, soil, water, pots, meter stick, sunlight, closet

7. Step 5
Complete the experiment, make observations and record data

8. Step 6
Analyze your data
Create a graph of your data, repeat the experiment

9. Step 7
Conclusion
Accept, reject, or modify your hypothesis based on the analysis of your data.
When a hypothesis has survived extensive testing, it may become a theory
A theory is widely accepted by the scientific community and best explains observable facts.

10. Parts of an experiment
Independent variable(IV): variable that changes as a result of the person doing the experiment
graphed on the x axis
Examples: time (minutes, days)

11. Dependent variable
Is the effect of the independent variable; changes as a result of the IV
graphed on y axis
Examples: temperature, distance, height

12. Control group
Part of the experiment that does not effect the outcome of the experiment; not exposed to the independent variable
Ex: sunlight vs. no sunlight

13. constants
The items in an experiment that never change so that the results are not skewed; stays the same throughout
Ex: same plants, same soil, etc.

14. Practice Scenario
Lisa wants to test to see if a plant will grow faster if it is exposed to music. She puts one plant in a room with a radio and another plant in a room with no radio. The plants are the same type, same age, and receive the same amount of water and sunlight everyday. Each day Lisa records the height of the plant.
Independent variable-
Dependent variable-
Constant-
Control-