M R S . S T O R E Y / M R S . TA KTA K

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

1.Ask a question or problem.Examples) Why am I in a hitting

slump?

What kind of cat food does my kitty prefer?

Where is the leak in my hot tub?

THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

2. Form a HypothesisTry to write an “If”, “then” statement.

Example) If I choke up on the bat, then I will hit more balls.

“If I do __________, then ___________ will happen!”

Should be written as a prediction....but stated as a FACT.

THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

3. Design and Carry out an Experiment• Make a plan to test your hypothesis and see if you are

right!

Example) Next time up to bat…..choke up!

THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

4. Record your Data

Note the results of your experiment. Data can be in different forms:

1. Quantitative = numbers (how many, how long)

2. Qualitative = descriptive

Examples) When choking up, I got hits 3 out of 4 at bats. My hits were line drives!

THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

5. Analyze Data and Form a Conclusion

Place data in charts, tables, or graphs and look for patterns or trends.

Based on the data, either Accept or Reject your hypothesis.

VARIABLES

• When experimenting, there is an Independent variable that causes a change known as a dependent variable. To VARY means to CHANGE.

• Independent Variable = What the experimenter controls “I control the independent variable!”

• Example) I am choking up on the bat 2 inches.

VARIABLES

Dependent Variable= The responding variable in other words, it is what has changed. It “depends” on the Independent variable.

Example) Three out of Four hits in the game

VARIABLES

Many experiments also have a control group. What is a control group and what is the purpose of this group?

Answer: This is a group that receives NO special treatment. In human testing, this group of people may receive a sugar pill (placebo). This gives the researchers something to compare the experimental group to.

VARIABLES

• In order to truly determine what is making change happen during experimentation, scientists only test one variable (the INDEPENDENT variable) at a time. All other factors in the experiment must be kept the same. We call these consistent factors the experiments CONSTANTS.

Try This! If we were experimenting on how water temperature affects fish movement, list some constants that should be controlled (kept the same) during the experiment.