Introduction to Scientific Method

Introduction to the Scientific Method

By Mr. Arch

Open Ended

Have you ever heard about the scientific method? What do you know about it? Write down a few sentences or brainstorm quietly. You may research the topic quietly if you are unsure.

Multiple Choice

What is science?

• studying math

• learning about the world by observing and investigating things in nature

• teaching about the world by examples.

• learning about the world from the computer

Why the Scientific
Method?

●The scientific method
helps scientists learn
about the world in a
careful way.

●It gives them a process to
follow to answer
questions.

●All scientists use the same
steps, so they can double
check each other's work.

●The steps allow scientists
to make observations
without bias or opinion.

The Steps of the
Scientific Method

1.

Make an observation

2.

Form a hypothesis

3.

Test the hypothesis
through
experimentation

4.

Form Conclusions
(answers)

5.

Share
results

• The independent variable would be the amount of sunlight the plants receive (e.g., full sunlight, partial sunlight, or no sunlight).

• The dependent variable would be the growth of the plant, measured by height, leaf size, or overall health.

​

Example:

In an experiment to test how sunlight effects plant growth:

Multiple Choice

The _____ variable is the variable you are observing and it changes in response to the _____ variable.

• independent, dependent

• dependent, independent

• dependent, control

• independent, control

Multiple Choice

If you were testing how well different dish soaps cleaned grease, the independent (experimental) variable would be the:

• dishes

• water

• dish soaps

• types of grease

Reorder

Place the steps of the Scientific Method in the correct order.

• Ask a question

• Make a Hypothesis

• Experiment

• Form Conclsions

• Share results

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

Which one of these is NOT one of the steps in the scientific method?

• Ask a question

• Experiment

• Share your results

• Use a microscope

Make a Hypothesis

●A hypothesis is your best
guess about what will
happen based on what
you already know.

●It is written like an if-then
statement.

●Example hypothesis: If
plants get sunlight, then
they will grow.

●The if part tells what you
will change or test.

●The then part tells what
you think will happen
because of that change.

Multiple Choice

Which of these statements is a hypothesis?

• If Ice is put under the sun, it will melt.

• I like ice cream.

• Ice is very cold.

• I wonder why chickens don't fly.

Test the Hypothesis
with an Experiment

●Design an experiment to
test your hypothesis.
Observe and record data.

●Example: Grow plants
with sunlight vs. no
sunlight.

●Look at the data you
collected and see if it
supports your hypothesis
or does not support your
hypothesis.

Draw Conclusions

●Look back at your question
and hypothesis.

●Did the results match your
hypothesis or not?

●Summarize what your
experiment taught you about
your original question.

●If your hypothesis was right,
explain why.

●If your hypothesis was
wrong, explain why you think
the results were different.

●What new things did you
learn from the experiment?

●What new questions do you
have now?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following questions would be an appropriate scientific question that could be tested by experimentation?

• Which type of bread goes moldy the fastest?

• Where do we go when we die?

• Is it morally wrong to transplant pig hearts into humans?

• Are llamas less valuable than camels?

Multiple Choice

While performing an experiment, it is important to:

• change the control setup

• test many different variables at the same time

• reach a conclusion

• record observations and measurements

Multiple Choice

In order for the conclusion of a scientific experiment to be convincing, the researcher must report adequate evidence supporting or refuting the hypothesis. Scientific evidence should include the:

• results from an experiment with just one trial

• results from only the trials that produced the expected results (the other “bad” data should be thrown out)

• results from multiple trials of one experiment, including unexpected results

Reorder

Place the steps of the Scientific Method in the correct order.

• Ask a question

• Make a Hypothesis

• Experiment

• Form Conclsions

• Share results

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5