What is Science?

-Ideas developed by scientists and the methods

used to gain information about the idea.

– A process of making observations and asking

questions about those observations.

– Scientists gain knowledge through study and

investigation and to make conclusions from observations.

Scientific Method- Series of steps used to answer questions and

solve problems

6 STEPS

– Question or Purpose- Identify the problem

– Research- Gather information

– Hypothesis- an educated guess or prediction

– Experiment- test your hypothesis

– Analysis- Observe, Record Observations (Data)

– Conclusion- based on your analysis

Scientific Method Cont.

• Scientific investigations do not always proceed from one step of the scientific method to the next.

• Sometimes steps are skipped and sometimes they are repeated.

Variables

-a factor; item in an experiment which when changed causes the results of the experiment to change

• Independent variable (factor that changes) - factor that is purposefully changed by the

experimenter

• Dependent variable (dependent depends on the independent)- factor that responds, therefore it is what is measured

• Controlled variable- constant; factor(s) that are kept the same throughout the experiment

Experimental Design

• Testing Groups

Experimental Group

the test group where all conditions, except the

independent variable, are kept the same

Control Group

the test group that is used as a standard for

comparison; doesn’t include the independent variable