What is the Scientific Method

– It’s a way to solve/explain a problem or natural

phenomenon, while removing human bias and opinion. It
is a critical procedure that allows validity and consistency
in the science field
 Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Ask a question or identify the problem and research the topic

2. Formulate a hypothesis
3. Conduct an experiment
• Plan the procedure
• Observe
• Collect data
4. Analyze the data
5. Draw a conclusion
6. Communicate your results
• The scientific method is
not always a linear
process

• The Inquiry Wheel may

be a more accurate way
to represent how the
scientific process works
Observe and Ask a Question

– What do we observe:
– Nature and your surroundings
– How is a question formed:
– Questioning what is observed

– What is a recent question you have asked your self about

an observation?
 Hypothesis
– A hypothesis is a testable explanation for a problem or
phenomenon
– The hypothesis should:
– Be testable and measurable
– Clearly state what you expect to happen
– Contain the independent and dependent variables
– Can be an “if then…” statement
 Variables
– Independent Variable: “The Cause”
– The thing the researcher changes
– Dependent Variable: “The Effect”
– The result of the experiment
– The thing being measured
 Variables
– When determining which variable is which,
remember that the independent variable is the
cause and the dependent variable is the effect
– Put the variables in this sentence:
– The ______ causes the ______ to change.
– If the sentence doesn’t make sense, you got it
wrong and need to try again
 Variables

– Variable Practice:
– We are testing if dog food brand has an effect on how
much a dog shed.
– Does the presence of probiotics in yogurt help with
digestion?
– Testing how long brands of pacemakers last.
 Variables

How Many Variables Should be Tested in an Experiment to

Make it valid?

1
Everything else in the experiment should stay the same.
These are called controlled variables or constants.
 Variables
– Controlled variables (also called constants) are all the
factors that stay the same throughout an experiment.
– In a controlled experiment, the independent
variable is the only thing that should be different
between experimental groups. Everything else
stays the same.
– An experiment will have multiple controlled
variables.
 QUESTION:
• You want to know if adding salt to a pot of water will make it
boil faster

• You put 4 cups of water in a pot, add a teaspoon of salt, turn

the burner on high, and time how long it takes to boil

• Did your water boil faster?

 You don’t know because you didn’t have a
control group!

What would we use as a control group in the

experiment?
 Control Group
– Control Group: is a group in your experiment
set up without the independent variable
– It shows us what would normally happen
– Is used as a comparison so we know if the
independent variable causes a change
 Data
– There are two types of data:
– Quantitative: Deals with numbers and things
you can measure
– Qualitative: Deals with characteristics that
can't be easily measured, but can be
observed
 Data
When collecting data, measurements should
be:
– Made in the same units
– Carried out to the same # of decimal places
– Organized in a chart
 Data Analysis

May include:
– Calculations
– Graph
– Charts
Important Calculations
– Mean (average): sum of all numbers in set
number of items in set
– Median: The middle number in the set
– Mode: Most frequent number in the set
– Range: How many numbers in between the
highest and lowest in the set
– Percentage: Part x 100/whole
 Calculation Practice
– Use this data set to practice the calculations
– 5, 6, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 4, 5, 3

– Mean (average)
5+6+1+1+2+2+1+4+5+3 = 30 = 3
10 10
 Calculation Practice
– Median – to find the median you first have to put
the #’s in order
– 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,6
– What do we do if there is not 1 middle #?
– Take the average of the two middle #’s.
– 2.5
 Calculation Practice
– Mode
–1
– Range
–5
 Calculation Practice

– Percentage:
– The data set represents the number of times a group of
students need to take a quiz before they passed.
– Calculate the percentage of students who passed the quiz the
within 2 attempts.
– 5 X 100
10
– 50%
 Graphing

– Some important things you need to remember when

graphing are:
– Make a line graph unless directions state otherwise
– The independent variable or time goes on the X axis
– The dependent variable goes on the Y axis
 Graphing
– Both axes should be labeled with the variable
and units used to measure the variable.
(example: time in seconds, height in cm)
– Label the axes in even increments (Correct 0,
2, 4, 6, 8, incorrect 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 8).
 Graphing
– Give the graph a title that is descriptive of what is
shown in the graph. The title should include the
dependent and independent variable.
– If the experiment has multiple experimental groups,
your graph may have multiple lines which will require
a legend.
– Your graph should take up most of graph paper
provided.
 Average thickness of Average thickness of
Age of the tree in the annual rings in the annual rings in
years cm. cm.
Forest A Forest B

10 2.0 2.2
20 2.2 2.5
30 3.0 3.6
35 3.5 3.8
50 3.9 4.5
60 4.3 5.2
 Graphing

– In analyzing data while comparing

the relationship between our
dependent and independent
variables, we can determine the
relationships that the numbers
(values) have. They will be…
 Positive Relationship (slope)

– Both X and Y values increase over time.

 Negative Relationship (slope)

– One variable is increasing and the other is decreasing

 Neutral Relationship
– Y value stays constant over time
 Conclusions

– When writing a conclusion you must include:

– Claim: Restate the hypothesis and tell if it was supported,
not supported or partially supported
– Evidence: use data from the experiment to support your
claim
– Reasoning: Use scientific principles about the topic to
explain why the evidence (data) supports/does not support
the claim
Sammy wants to see if plants really do grow better in
sunlight. He uses 3 plants of the same type and size.
Plant A is placed on the counter, Plant B is placed inside
the cabinet, and Plant C is placed on the window sill.
After 5 days Sammy measures the growth of each plant
and documents it in the table below.
Height on Day 1 Height on Day 5
Plant A 12 cm 14 cm
Plant B 12 cm 13 cm
Plant C 12 cm 16 cm
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is
there to hear it,
does it make a
sound?
 Communicating Results
– This step is possibly the most important step
of the scientific process.
– Scientists may choose to share their work by:
– Publishing the results in a scientific journal
– Presenting at a conference
 Communicating Results
– Communicating their findings allows
scientists to:
– Review each other’s work
– Provide knowledge for future research
– Connect with others doing similar work
 Laws and Theories
• What is a law?
• A system of rules

• What is a theory?
• An idea used to account for a situation or
justify a course of action

• Are theories and laws in science different?

 Scientific Law
– Scientific Laws:
– Are descriptions of scientific phenomenon.
– Are derived from scientific facts.
– Can be expressed as verbal or mathematical
statements.
– Can be modified.
– Examples - Newton’s Laws of Gravity and Mendel’s Law of
Independent Assortment
 Scientific Theory
– Scientific Theories:
– Explain why natural event occur.
– Are supported by a wide range of evidence.
– Are widely accepted by the science community.
– Can be used to make predictions.
– Can be modified when new evidence arises.
– Examples - Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection and Einstein’s
Theory of General Relativity
 Scientific Reasoning
– There are two types of reasoning:
– 1- Inductive reasoning: conclusions based on actual experience,
witness or observations (empirical)
– 2- Deductive reasoning: conclusions drawn on inferences, not
actual empirical evidence
 Scientific Reasoning
Try These Examples:
A)Dinosaurs have scaly skin like their close relatives the
reptiles.
B) Water placed at different temperatures only boils at 100
degrees Celsius.
C) Your mom comes home every day at 3:00PM. So, when
you hear the garage door at 3:03PM, you know it is her.
 Pure Vs. Applied Science
Pure Applied
– Exact Science of producing – Used to come up with
scientific theories. answers to problems
– There may be no practical – Answers a question in the
usage natural world
– Doing science for the sake of – Driven by the need to fix a
science problem or change
– Math and Theoretical Physics something
– Biology and Chemistry
 Pure Vs. Applied Science
– Try These Examples:

– Development of String Theory

– Pharmaceutical research and drug testing
– Building different types of rocket engines in lab
– Using new rocket engines to travel farther into space
 Valid Science
– Here are some other factors that can influence valid
science:
– Sample size
– Number of trials
– Lack of communication
– Opinions/bias
– Cultural differences
 PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!

– Write a hypothesis regarding what color of light (red, blue, or

green) will help a plant to grow the tallest.
– What Should You Constants Be?
– IV?
– DV?
– Control Group?