Scientific Method Guided Notes

​Scientific Method

Biology, Chaparral High School

Success Criteria

Today, I will…

• Understand the steps of the scientific method and their purpose.

• Learn how to formulate a testable hypothesis.

• Develop skills to design a fair and controlled experiment.

Learning Intentions

I know I have it when I can...

• List and explain each step of the scientific method.

• Create a clear, testable hypothesis related to my experiment.

• Explain how my experiment will test my hypothesis

Process of Science

• Science differs from these other ways of knowing and learning because the scientific process uses the scientific method, it is a standard series of steps used in gaining new knowledge that is widely accepted among scientists. 

• The steps of the scientific method are often applicable to other situations and begin with a question.

What is the Scientific Method?

• The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. 

• The aim is to discover cause and effect relationships by asking questions, carefully gathering and examining the evidence. Using all the available information is combined to provide an answer to a hypothesis. 

Multiple Choice

What is the first step of the Scientific Method?

• Form a hypothesis.
• Conduct an experiment.
• Ask questions.

Multiple Choice

What is the second step of the Scientific Method?

• Form a hypothesis.
• Conduct an experiment.
• Ask questions.

Multiple Choice

What is the third step of the Scientific Method?

• Form a hypothesis.
• Conduct an experiment.
• Ask questions.

Multiple Choice

What is the fourth step of the Scientific Method?

• Come to a conclusion.
• Record observations.
• Ask the teacher for the answer.

Multiple Choice

What is the fifth step of the Scientific Method?

• Come to a conclusion.
• Record observations.
• Ask the teacher for the answer.

Steps of the Scientific Method

Step 1: Observation/ Asking a question
Step 2: Form a hypothesis
Step 3: Test the hypothesis (experiment)
Step 4: Record results and analyze data
Step 5: Draw a conclusion
Step 6: Communicate results

Writing a Hypothesis

• A hypothesis tries to predict or determine the outcome of your experiment even before the experiment is done

  • Predictions usually stated in an “if ….. Then” statement. 

  • Example:  If I drop a rock, then it will fall down toward the ground

• HYPOTHESIS MUST BE TESTABLE!

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct hypothesis for "What effect does studying have on your test grade?"

• IF I study for hours, THEN my test grade will be better.

• IF I have a good test grade, THEN I will study.

• Good grades are from studying.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct hypothesis for "How will exercising affect your health?"

• IF you have better health, THEN you will exercise.

• IF you exercise, THEN you will have better health.

• Exercising means you're healthy.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a rule when writing a hypothesis?

• It is testable

• It is an if/then statement

• it should restate the question

• It is a prediction.

Multiple Choice

What is a hypothesis?

• the thing changed on purpose in the experiment

• an explanation about what you observed

• using your 5 senses to gather data

• an educated guess about the outcome of an experiment

Multiple Choice

What two words should be in your hypothesis?

• I think

• If ...then...

• It will

• No idea

Testing the Hypothesis

• Controlled Experiments are used to test a hypothesis

  • A controlled experiment is an experiment that tests only one factor at a time

  • a control group is compared with an experimental group.  Variables are not changed in the Control Group.

  • Control groups allow you to see if a change in a variable creates an observed outcome by comparing the control group with the experimental group

Designing a Controlled Experiment

The factors in an experiment that can be changed are called variables.   Some examples of variables would be: changing the temperature, the amount of light present, time, concentration of solutions used.

A controlled experiment works with one variable at a time.  If several variables were changed at the same time, the scientist would not know which variable was responsible for the observed results.

Experiment Variables

• INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

  • The independent variable is being changed in the experiment

• DEPENDENT VARIABLE

  • The dependent variable is the one being measured

  • The dependent variable responds to the changed independent variable

Multiple Choice

The one thing that a scientist changes in their investigation

• Variable

• Independent variable

• data

• Hypothesis

Multiple Choice

What the scientist is measuring in their investigation. 

• Dependent variable

• variable

• hypothesis

Multiple Choice

What is a constant/control in an experiment?

• Things that do not change in a experiment. It's the variable that stays the same. You can have many variables stay the same.

• It's the variables that the scientist changes in the experiment

• It's the variables that are being measured in an experiment

Multiple Choice

Mr. S set up an experiment to see how the mass of a ball affects the distance it rolls off a ramp. Identify the independent variable.

• Distance traveled by the ball
• Height of the ramp
• Mass of the ball

Multiple Choice

This part of the experiment serves as a basis of comparison:

• control group

• Independent variable

• dependent variable

Multiple Choice

A student is planning an experiment to find out how the height from which he drops a ball affects how high the ball bounces. The dependent variable is the _____.

• Height that the ball bounces
• Height from which the ball is dropped

Multiple Choice

Research Question: Does the type of gasoline in a car affect its top speed?

Identify the dependent variable.

• Type of gasoline

• Type of car

• Top Speed

• Amount of gasoline

Multiple Choice

Gavan throws a ball at the wall with a speed of 50 mph and it bounces back at him at 40 mph. He decides to throw the ball with a speed of 25 mph and it returns at 20 mph.

What is a possible claim he can make?

• The wall is moving very fast.

• His arm gets sore after throwing twice.

• The higher the speed of the ball the slower it bounces back.

• The higher the speed of the ball the faster it bounces back.

Data Collection

• Data is collected from experiments

  • Data is defined as: recorded observations or measurements (qualitative = description, quantitative = number data)

  • Based on observations 

  • Utilize tools or senses:  sight, smell, temperature change etc.

• Data is organized in tables, charts and graphs so that it can be more easily analyzed

Drawing Conclusions

• NO EXPERIMENT IS A FAILURE:  All experiments are observations of real events

• The evidence from the experiment is used to determine if the hypothesis is supported or not supported. 

Communicating Results

• Results must be communicated in the form of a written paper or presentation

• Communication helps other scientists performing the same experiments to see if the results of your experiment are the same as their results

  • Helps people see if results are repeatable!

Multiple Choice

State the general relationship between mowing time and total cost for mowing based on the graph.

• The longer you mow, the less money you make.

• You make the same amount of money regardless of how long you mow.

• The longer you mow, the more money you make.

• Mowing is dangerous.

Multiple Choice

Which is a good example of a hypothesis for the following scientific question, "Does playing violent video games lead to higher blood pressure?"

• Playing violent video games gives people higher blood pressure.

• If you play violent video games you will have higher blood pressure.

• If you have higher blood pressure, then you play violent video games because they are fun.

• If you play violent video games, then you will have higher blood pressure because you get stressed.

Multiple Choice

A student creates a pie chart to display the data of hair colors in the classroom. Their data shows that 25% of students have blonde hair, 7% have red hair, 30% have black hair, and 63% have brown hair. Which section of the pie chart represents the students with red hair?

• A (red)

• B (green)

• C (blue)

• D (purple)

Multiple Choice

Based patterns in the data table, what do you predict the mass of the block of ice to be after 75 minutes?

• 500

• 550

• 600

• 525

Multiple Choice

A student tracked the population size of algae over a period of time. Based on the patterns in this data table, how many algae will there be after 6 hours?

• 9

• 11

• 14

• 15