Transcript The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method
What is the Scientific Method?
• The Scientific Method is an organized way of answering a science question.
There are usually six parts to it. It is used all over the world every day to make
new discoveries
• 1. Purpose/Question- What do you want to learn?
2. Research- Find out as much as you can.
3. Hypothesis- Try to predict the answer to the problem. Another term for
hypothesis is 'educated guess'. This is usually stated like " If I...(do something)
then...(this will occur)
• 4. Experiment- The fun part! Design a test or procedure to confirm or disprove
your hypothesis.
5. Analysis- Record what happened during the experiment. Also known as
'data'.
• 6. Conclusion- Review the data and check to see if your hypothesis was correct.
1. PURPOSE:
• What is the Question I want to answer?
• Question that does not have a “yes” or “no”
answer.
2. RESEARCH.
• Read as much as you can and find out about
the subject. What have other people done?
What did they find out?
• Take notes and copy any charts and graphs
about this subject. You may change your
Question.
• Note any experiments that can MEASURE
(measurement tools) to give answers to
question
• Now plan your own experiment.
3. HYPOTHESIS
• What do I predict will happen?
• Hypothesis. This is sometimes stated as an
“educated guess”
• Predicting the outcome of your experiment
• Be specific. Use scientific measurement
terms.
4. EXPERIMENT
• Gather materials; plan ahead; keep detailed
notes; take pictures; create data tables; make
observations
• Experiment – All experiments must contain:
•
Control group
•
Experimental group
•
Independent variable
•
Dependent variable
• Control group:
• In a test or trial, a group that does not receive the
new treatment being studied and which is
compared to the group that does receive the new
treatment
•
This is the comparison group that does not
change. Ex) when testing a new vaccine, this is the
group that does NOT get the new medicine.
• Experimental group:
• A group of subjects that are exposed to the
variable of a control experiment.
• This is the group that is expected to show
changes. Ex) when testing a new vaccine, this
is the group that DOES get some of the new
medicine.
• Independent variable:
• A variable that is not affected by any other
variables with which it is compared.
• This is the new or experimental item that is
introduced to the experiment ex) when testing a
new vaccine, the amount of vaccine put into each
group is the independent variable. It stands alone.
• Dependent variable:
• the event studied and expected to change when
the independent variable is changed.
• These are the measurable things that you can
see and hear and observe after your experiment.
They change, depending on how much
Independent Variable is changed
• Ex) when testing a new vaccine, this is the
measureable changes in the different groups
after then received (some or none) the new
vaccine medicine. How many people still got the
disease or how severe were their symptoms.
5. ANALYSIS
• What is the answer to my question?
• Analysis: explain what happened and possible
reasons why it happened.
6. CONCLUSION
• Conclusion: Share your results. A clear and
concise report of your process.
• Tell what you just did in a nutshell. What did you
learn?
• Conclusions: explain what you would do the
same again and what you would do different.
Was your hypothesis supported or not?
• Did your opinion change?
• What would you do next year as an offshoot of
this experiment or an extension
• Publish!!
Theory:
a set of related hypotheses that have
been tested and confirmed many times
by many scientists.
A Theory Unites and explains a broad
range of observations.
Law
A law can be proven without a
shadow of a doubt.
Ex. Law of Gravity
Graphic organizer for Scientific Method
Questions/Purpose
Predictions and hypotheses
experimentation
Analysis: Some
hypotheses are
rejected
Analysis: Some
hypotheses are
supported
Conclusions: Related
hypotheses are verified by many
different scientists
THEORY
Graphic organizer for Scientific Method
Q________________
P________________
H________________________
E________________
A______________:
Some hypotheses
are rejected
A______________:
Some hypotheses
are supported
C:___________________
Related hypotheses are verified
by many different scientists
T:________________
• PRACTICE QUESTIONS
• It has been hypothesized that a chemical known as BW
prevents colds. To test this hypothesis, 20,000 volunteers
were divided into four groups. Each volunteer took a white
pill every morning for one year. The contents of the pill
taken by the members of each group are shown in the chart
below.
• 1. Which statement is a valid inference based on
the results?
•
•
•
•
A
B
C
D
Sugar reduced the number of colds.
BW may not be effective in the prevention of colds.
BW is always effective in the prevention of colds.
Sugar increased the number of colds.
2. What was the independent variable in this
experiment?
• A amount of BW added
• B amount of sugar added
• C number of volunteers in each group
• D color of the pills