Scientific Method Notes

1. Scientific Method Notes

2. What Is The Scientific Method? The Scientific Methodis a process to find answers to questions that scientists ask about the world around them.

3. Steps of Scientific Method • Identify a problem • Hypothesis • Experiment • Collect data • Conclusion • Retest IHeard Every Cow Could Rollerskate!

4. Identify Problem • We identify a problem by observing the world through our senses. • After we identify a problem, we form it as a question that we want to answer.

5. Example • I observe that using different routes to walk from my desk to room 101 and back can affect how long it takes to get there. • So, I form it as a question that I want to answer: “What is the fastest route to room 101 and back?”

6. Hypothesis • A hypothesis is an educated guess you make about the question you are trying to answer. • It must be testable! • Is usually formed in an “If… Then…” statement.

7. Example • My hypothesis is that going down the down-stairs and then up the up-stairs closest to my classroom is the fastest route to the office and back. • I would say “IfI go down the down-stairs and up the up-stairs closest to my classroom, then I will get to room 101 and back in the least amount of time.”

8. Experiment • You must create a procedure that will help test your hypothesis. • You can do the procedure several times to make sure it is accurate; these are called trials.

9. Example Procedure • I could time the different routes that I use to get to the office and back. • Each new route could be done several times (trials) to make sure it’s time is accurate.

10. Experiment Constants • You need to keep every factor the same in each trial except for the one thing you are testing. • These factors that stay the same are your constants and they help in comparing one trial to another.

11. Experiment Variables • The one factor that is changed is known as theIndependent variable (think - what “I” change) • The factor that is measured or observed as data because of the change you made is called the Dependent variable(think – “Data” you collect)

12. Example • If you time each route to the office and back, these are the factors: • Constants = same person walking, same person timing, same stopwatch, same speed, etc. • Independent variable = the different route you choose. • Dependent variable = the time of each route.

13. Collecting Data • Your data is the observable or measurable information that you collect during your experiment. • It can be quantitative data (numbers) or qualitative data(non-numerical information). • It must be organized into tables, charts, or graphs.

14. Example

15. Conclusion • The proven answer to the question based on the data obtained from the experiment. • You will either accept or reject your hypothesis AND give an explanation for why.

16. Example “My hypothesis was incorrect because the fastest route to room 101 and back was to go down the down-stairs and up the up-stairs closest to my door.”

17. Retest • In order to verify the results, experiments must be retested. • If you get the same results, you’re test is most likely accurate. If you get a different result, you’re test might need to be adjusted or modified.

18. Example • If we do our tests again and still find the closest stairway to be faster, then we know we have an accurate test. • If we do our tests and find another route to be faster this time, we will have to keep retesting to find which one is correct.