Biology Scientific Method Notes

The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a process used by scientists to study the world around them. It can also be used to test whether any statement is accurate.

Steps of the Scientific Method

• Step 1 - Make an Observation

• Step 2 - State the problem

• Step 3 - Form a Hypothesis

• Step 4 - Test the Hypothesis

• Step 5 - Record and Analyze Results

• Step 6 - Draw Conclusions

Multiple Choice

List the Scientific Process steps in order.

• Observation, State the problem, Form Hypothesis, Test Hypothesis, Record Data, Conclusion

• Conclusion, Observation, Experiment, Data, Hypothesis

• Observation, Experiment, Hypothesis, Conclusion, Data, Question

• None of the above

Step 1

• The first step of the scientific process involves making observations.

• For example:

  What do you see, hear, taste, smell, feel? What did you notice about the rocks? Can you tell me about the block tower that you made? What do you notice about the plants?

Multiple Choice

The first step of the scientific method and when it starts when you make a(n) _________

• A. observation

• B. do background research

• C. construct hypothesis

• D. construct a conclusion

Step 2

• Form questions from your problem. What are you trying to find out?

• For example: I wonder what will happen if the rocks get wet? I wonder why the block tower collapsed? I wonder why that plant is droopy?

Multiple Choice

The second step of the Scientific Method starts when you _______

• Do research

• State the problem in the form of a question

• Complete the experiment

• Identify the variable

Step 3

• Step 3 of the scientific method involves forming a hypothesis

• A Hypothesis is an educated guess, proposed solution or a possible explanation.

• It is shown in the form of a "If ______, Then____" Statement.

Multiple Choice

After you identify your problem, you need to form a _______ which is in a If.....,Then... statement

• Observation

• Problem

• Variable

• Hypothesis

Multiple Choice

What is a hypothesis?

• an educated guess stating what you believe will be the result of your experiement

• a random guess

• a statement of the outcome of your experiment

• step by step directions for your experiment

Step 4

• You set up and test your experiment

• Your experiment is made up of multiple parts: The Independent Variable, The Dependent Variable, Constant and Control Groups

• 
  

Independent Variables

• This is the variable that the experimenter (You, the scientist) will change.

• It is assumed to have a direct effect on the dependent variable.

Multiple Choice

The independent variable is the ONE thing you _____.

• change on purpose
• control or keep constant
• measure

Dependent Variable

• The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in an experiment.

• It is 'dependent' on the independent variable.

Multiple Choice

The variable that is being measured or observed is called the _______________. Hint: this is the variable that is the result of what you changed in the independent variable.

• independent variable

• dependent variable

• control variable

Multiple Choice

Using the picture: An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth.

Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquids: water or diet coke. What variables HAVE NOT changed?

• type of plant, flower pot, soil, and amount of sunlight

• Using water or diet coke

• only the amount of sunlight

• type of plant only

Control Groups and Constants

- The Control and Constants are NEVER CHANGED in the scientific method.

- Control Group - is the group that serves as a standard of comparison.

- Constant - The factors that do not change during the experiment.

Multiple Choice

What is the part of the experiment that is NEVER CHANGED, and is used to compare back the results of the experiment to?

• Independent Variable

• Dependent Variable

• Control Group/Constant

• Experimental Group

Multiple Choice

Using the picture: An experiment is performed on plants to see how different liquids affect plant growth.

Each plant in the experiment is given a different liquids: water or diet coke. What variables have NOT changed?

• type of plant, flower pot, soil, and amount of sunlight

• Using water or diet coke

• only the amount of sunlight

• type of plant only

Step 5

• Once the experiment is finished, you look at your findings to see if your hypothesis was correct.

• Also known as DATA

Step 6

- Review the data and check to see if your hypothesis was correct. If it is, it will be retested by another group.

- If the hypothesis is tested multiple times and proven correct, it then becomes a THEORY.

Practice Problems on the scientific Method

Multiple Choice

What is the scientific method?

• A systematic procedure for how to conduct a scientific experiment

• The process of solving a problem

• A way of making non-scientific observations

• A way to summarize findings from multiple investigations

Multiple Choice

An observation that is measurable and made with tools (such as a ruler or scale) is what type

• quantitative

• qualitative

• koalatative

Multiple Choice

What is the last step of the scientific method?

• Retest Experiment

• Study Results

• Draw Conclusion

• Hypothesize

Multiple Choice

The variable that is changed by the scientist to see it's effect

• hypothesis

• independent variable

• dependent variable

Multiple Choice

How does watching TV during studying affect a student’s test grades? Student's grades are the....

• independent variable

• dependent variable

Multiple Choice

Steve wanted to see if the type of fertilizer made sunflowers grow larger. What is the dependent variable 

• Type of fertilizer

• Size of sunflower

• Type of sunflower

Multiple Choice

The part of the experiment that remains the same for the control and experimental group.

• constants

• independent

• dependent

Multiple Choice

The higher the temperature of water, the faster the egg will cook.  Select the independent variable.

• Faster Egg Cooks

• Higher Temperature