1. The Scientific Method

2. The Scientific Method The scientific method is the only scientific
way accepted to back up a theory or
idea. This is the method on which all
research projects should be based. The
Scientific Method is used by researchers all
over the world to support or disprove a
theory.

3. The Scientific Method
is a logical and rational order of steps by which scientists come to conclusions about the world around them….
Simply put… Science is the search for knowledge

4. The Scientific Method involves 9 steps:
1 - Observation
2 – Question
3 - Gather information
4 - Hypothesis
5 – Experimentation/Procedure
6 – Collect Data
7 - Analyze
8 - Conclusion
9 – Share Result with your Peers

5. Observation - You observe something
in the material world, using your senses
or machines which are basically
extensions of those senses.
AH—Look at this!

6. Question - You ask a question about what you observe.
State the problem or question.

7. Gather Information Research and gather information on your
question to form a stronger hypothesis
(educated guess).

8. Hypothesis
- You predict what you think the answer to your question might be.
A good hypothesis is written as an
“If ___, then ___” statement.
An educated guess.

9. Experimentation/Procedure
- You figure out a way to test whether
the hypothesis is correct. The outcome must be
measurable (quantifiable).
AND it must be “REPEATABLE”

10. Collect and Record Data
Name, date and time/period , along with location
and Title
Record all data, pertinent facts and
changes of the experiment.
Then Analyze the data, statistically
and inferentially.
Recording and Analyzing of data is
sometimes considered two different steps.

11. Analyze Results Organize data Calculate and Analyze
Then Analyze the data, statistically
and inferentially.
Repeat experiment. Why?

12. Conclusion - You state whether
your hypothesis/prediction was confirmed
or not and try to explain your results.

13. Share Results Share your findings with your peers.
In today’s scientific community, results can be shared
“Globally”, in seconds, with a click of a button.
List five ways we can connect “Globally” with our peers.

14. Test Your Knowledge
PART 1: Match the following components of the Scientific Method to their
definitions.
1. ___ Analyze A. States the question.
2. ___ Hypothesis B. Tells what happened during your experiment.
3. ___ Conclusion C. Send results to peers
4. ___ Problem D. Explains why your results happened.
5. ___ Procedure E. Collects information from experiment
6. ___ Observations F. Prediction to the question. Educated Guess
7. ___ Research G. Shows the steps you took to do your experiment.
8. ___ Share H. 1st. And most important facet of science.
9. ___ Record data I. Gather information

15. Experimental Groups Control – Does not change, Variable – Changes
Independent variable – Changed by experimenter to cause change
Dependent variable – resulting changes of independent variable
Direct variable – both variables change in the same direction
Indirect variable – both variables change in opposite direction

16. Changes = Delta =
Changing quantities are called variables. A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. An experiment “usually” has three kinds of variables: controlled, independent, and dependent.

17. Quanatative
In a good experiment, the scientist must be able to measure the values for each variable. Measurable
Emotions are hard to measure.

18. In Variable Summary
Controlled variables answer the question "What do I keep the same?“
Independent variables answer the question "What do I change?“
Dependent variables answer the question "What do I observe?"
Extraneous variables answer the question "What uninteresting variables might mediate (cause) an effect.

19. In Variable Video

20. Extra Variables Direct - Indirect
Extraneous – are uninteresting variables other than the independent variable that may bear any effect on the behavior of the subject being studied. Such as age, gender, race, nationality…

21. Direct Variable
We have direct variation if the two variables change in the same sense; i.e. if one increases, so does the other.

22. Indirect Variable
We have indirect variation if one going up causes the other to go down. An example of this might be speed and time to do a particular journey; so the higher the speed, the shorter the time.

23. Direct vs. Indirect Variable Video

24. List in Order
PART 2: Put the components of the Scientific Method into the correct order.
1. __________ __________
2. __________ 7. __________
3. __________ 8. __________
4. __________ 9. __________
5. __________

25. Scenario
Synopsis:
________________________ Jenny states that if she sprays her vegetables with a natural, homemade solution to help fight the bug problem, then her vegetables will still grow to the same size as they would if she used store bought pesticides
_________________________Jenny tells her grandfather how her experiment went. He tries her homemade solution in his garden with the same results.

26. Scenario
_________________________Jenny sprays one third of her vegetables with store bought pesticides, one third of her vegetables with her homemade solution, and does not spray the remaining third (her control group)
________________________ After one week, Jenny compares and tests the differences in her vegetables
________________________ Jenny wonders how she can protect her plants from bugs without harming the vegetables

27. Scenario
________________________ Jenny determines that her homemade solution was just as effective as the store-bought pesticides
______________________ Jenny goes to the library and looks up different kind of pesticides and their effect on vegetables and also looks up natural remedies to help solve her bug problem
_______________________ Jenny has been working hard all summer on her tomato garden. Recently, she noticed that insects have been eating her tomatoes and tomato plants and she is worried about spraying them with harmful, store-bought pesticides

28. The Scientific Method Test you knowledge by creating a
Scientific Scenario.
Observe and pick out a question that
needs answering.
Follow and describe each step of the
The Scientific Method.
Design an Experiment to test your scenario’s hypothesis

29. Create a Scientific Scenario
Create a scenario using the 9 listed Scientific Method steps with your lab group similar to the scenario above.

30. Design an Experiment for Your Scenario
Include:
Reasoning and expected outcomes.
Procedure/Steps
Control group, independent and dependent variables, direct and indirect variables
Materials List
Safety