1. SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY What are the 6 steps of the scientific method? What are the 6 steps of the scientific method? What are the 3 major parts of a scientific experiment? What are the 3 major parts of a scientific experiment?

2. Scientific Method A process by which scientific questions can be answered A process by which scientific questions can be answered Involves 6 steps: Involves 6 steps: 1. Pose Question/State Problem 2. Develop Hypothesis 3. Design Experiment 4. Collect & Interpret Data 5. Draw Conclusions 6. Communicate Results

3. Step 1: Pose Question Make sure your question is scientific: Make sure your question is scientific: Can be answered with evidence Can be answered with evidence NOT answered with an opinion NOT answered with an opinion Example: Example: “Do quarterbacks play better in the rain?” “Do quarterbacks play better in the rain?” “Which football team has the best uniforms?” “Which football team has the best uniforms?”

4. Step 2: Develop Hypothesis A hypothesis is: A hypothesis is: Testable Testable An educated guess (not random) An educated guess (not random) Must try to answer the inquiry question Must try to answer the inquiry question Examples: Examples: “Quarterbacks will throw less touchdowns in the rain.” “Quarterbacks will throw less touchdowns in the rain.”

5. Step 3: Design Experiment Independent (Manipulated Variable): Independent (Manipulated Variable): Part of the experiment being tested. Changed on purpose. Part of the experiment being tested. Changed on purpose. Ex. Weather (rainy, clear) Ex. Weather (rainy, clear) Dependent (Responding Variable): Dependent (Responding Variable): Part of the experiment being measured. May or may not change. Part of the experiment being measured. May or may not change. How many touchdowns thrown How many touchdowns thrown Controls: Controls: Things kept the same on purpose Things kept the same on purpose Ex. Field, defense, offense, players Ex. Field, defense, offense, players

6. Step 4: Collecting & Interpreting Data Data = All of the observations/evidence Data = All of the observations/evidence Can be organized with graphs, charts, pictures, etc. Can be organized with graphs, charts, pictures, etc. Inferences are made about the data Inferences are made about the data

7. Step 5: Draw Conclusions Conclusion – Summarizes experiment and explains how the data supports or disproves the hypothesis. Conclusion – Summarizes experiment and explains how the data supports or disproves the hypothesis. Is the hypothesis right or wrong? Is the hypothesis right or wrong? Is the data inconclusive? Is the data inconclusive? Do you need to revise your hypothesis and retest? Do you need to revise your hypothesis and retest?

8. Step 6: Communicate Results Scientists share their experiments, data, and conclusions with other scientists Scientists share their experiments, data, and conclusions with other scientists Eventually: Eventually: Theory: a conclusion backed up by massive amounts of evidence and/or repeated results Theory: a conclusion backed up by massive amounts of evidence and/or repeated results Law: a mathematically defined rule of nature. Law: a mathematically defined rule of nature.