Scientific Method-review 1

7/31/2019 Scientific Method-review 1

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Scientific methodology


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STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The steps of the scientific method are astructure that has been developed over themillennia, since the time of the ancient Greek

and Persian philosophers. Whilst there are always minor variations

between different scientific disciplines, theyall follow the same basic path.


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STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD


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Ask a Question:

The scientific method starts when you ask a

question about something that you observe:

How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or

Where?

And, in order for the scientific method to

answer the question it must be about

something that you can measure, preferablywith a number.


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Do Background Research:

Rather than starting from scratch in putting

together a plan for answering your question,

you want to be a savvy scientist using library

and Internet research to help you find the best

way to do things and insure that you don't

repeat mistakes from the past.


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Construct a Hypothesis:

A hypothesis is an educated guess about how

things work:

"If _____[I do this] _____, then

_____[this]_____ will happen."

You must state your hypothesis in a way that

you can easily measure, and of course, your

hypothesis should be constructed in a way tohelp you answer your original question.


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Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an

Experiment:

Your experiment tests whether yourhypothesis is true or false. It is important foryour experiment to be a fair test. You conduct

a fair test by making sure that you change onlyone factor at a time while keeping all otherconditions the same.

You should also repeat your experimentsseveral times to make sure that the firstresults weren't just an accident.


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Limitation of experiment/data range studied

Variation of y with x as observed

Variable x

Variable

y

M

Upto M the correlation can be straight line but beyond M is not


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Communicate Your Results:

Communicate Your Results: To complete your

science fair project you will communicate your

results to others in a final report and/or a

display board. Professional scientists do

almost exactly the same thing by publishing

their final report in a scientific journal or by

presenting their results on a poster at ascientific meeting.


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Even though we show the scientific methodas a series of steps, keep in mind that new

information or thinking might cause a

scientist to back up and repeat steps at any

point during the process. A process like the

scientific method that involves such backing

up and repeating is called an iterative

process.


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Graphical Presentation of results


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Graphical presentation of results

Graphs are often an excellent way to display

your results. In fact, most good science fair

projects have at least one graph.


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Graphical Excellence

Complex ideas communicated with clarity,

precision, and efficiency

Shows the data

Makes you think about substance rather thanmethod, graphic design, or something else

Many numbers in a small space

Makes large data sets coherent

Encourages the eye to compare different piecesof the data


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For any type of graph:

Generally, you should place your independentvariable on the x-axis of your graph and the

dependent variable on the y-axis. Be sure to label the axes of your graph don't

forget to include the units of measurement(grams, centimeters, liters, etc.).

If you have more than one set of data, showeach series in a different color or symbol andinclude a legend with clear labels.


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Types of graphs

Different types of graphs are appropriate for

different experiments. Few of the possible

types of graphs are:


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Pie chart and Bar Chart


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Bar Graphs

A bar graph might be appropriate for

comparing different trials or different

experimental groups. It also may be a good

choice if your independent variable is notnumerical. (In Microsoft Excel, generate bar

graphs by choosing chart types "Column" or

"Bar.")


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Time series plot

A time-series plot can be used if your

dependent variable is numerical and your

independent variable is time.


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Time series plot


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Xy- line Graph

An xy-line graph shows the relationship

between your dependent and independent

variables when both are numerical and the

dependent variable is a function of theindependent variable. (In Microsoft Excel,

choose the "XY (scatter)" chart type, and then

choose a sub-type that does draw a line.)


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Example of xy line graph


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Scatter plot

A scatter plot might be the proper graph if

you're trying to show how two variables may

be related to one another. (In Microsoft Excel,

choose the "XY (scatter)" chart type, and thenchoose a sub-type that does not draw a line.)


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Example Scatter plot


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Labeled scatter plot


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Histogram


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Stem and Leaf Diagram


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3D plots


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Scientific Method-review 1

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