THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Scientific Method-
A series of steps that scientists and 8th
graders use to answer questions and solve
problems

The scientific method is a logical, problem

solving technique
STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

1. Make an Observation/Ask a question

2. Write a Hypothesis
3. Make Predictions
4. Perform Experiments / Data Collection
5. Conclusion Statement
OBSERVATION
1ST STEP IN THE SCIENTIFIC
METHOD PROCESS

 1. An observation is something you can see

or prove

 2. An inference is an opinion, or conclusion,

based on observed facts
 WRITE A HYPOTHESIS
2ND STEP IN THE SCIENTIFIC
METHOD PROCESS

 Hypothesis-
Possible explanation or answer to a question

“What do you think is the answer to your question or

the reason for your observation”
 3RD STEP IN THE SCIENTIFIC
METHOD PROCESS
MAKE PREDICTIONS

 Prediction
 Statement of what may happen in the future

“What are some if / then statements that explain and

confirm your hypothesis”
PREDICTIONS
If the cows are warned
a car is coming, then
they will stop talking
and act like cows.
PREDICTIONS
If…………………
then………..
PREDICTIONS
If…………………
then…………………
 PERFORM TESTS OR EXPERIMENTS
4TH STEP IN THE SCIENTIFIC
METHOD PROCESS

“What will you do to test your predictions?”

-1. Collect Data

-2. Find out if your hypothesis is or is not correct.

 STATE YOUR CONCLUSIONS
5TH STEP IN THE SCIENTIFIC
METHOD PROCESS

 1. “What did your experiment show?”

 2. “Did your experiment confirm (prove right)

your hypothesis?”

 3. Application
“How does this apply to everyday life?”
SCIENCE VOCABULARY
1. Bias-
 To influence in an unfair way
 2. Analyze-
-Consider the detail and subject in order
to discover the meaning. To look at the
results and find meaning.
3. qualitative-observations made with your
senses and not numbers
4. quantitative- observations that include
amount or numbers
INDEPENDENT, DEPENDENT, AND
CONTROLLED VARIABLES
 1. Independent, dependent, and controlled
variables are tools used in an experiment to track
what is going on
 2. Allow you to have control over your
experiments
 3. Allows you to measure your results and draw
accurate conclusions
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
1. What you change or control in an experiment

-You can only have one independent variable

DEPENDENT VARIABLE
- 1. What you measure in an experiment

- 2. You can have more than one dependent

variable
CONTROLLED VARIABLES
1. Any other conditions in an experiment

2. Must remain constant or the same

CONTROL GROUP
 A group in an experiment that is not tested or
effected
EXAMPLES
 Fast-food experiment

 Plant
PRACTICE
 The Jones put a real Christmas 1. What is the independent
tree up in their home each year. variable?
This year they don’t know what
species of tree to buy because
they want a tree that smells good, 2. What are the dependent
keeps it’s needles and stays fresh variables?
the longest. They go to the local
Christmas tree farm to cut down
their tree. 3. List some controls the
Christmas tree farm would need
The Christmas tree farm has to do in order for their results to
performed their own trial this be more valid.
year, and a month ago cut a blue
spruce, Douglas fir, and white
pine and placed them in water 4. What could the farm have down
and displayed them outside the differently to increase the
store. This allowed customers to “validity” of their experiment.
view the trees, feel the needles,
and see how the different
coniferous trees held their
needles and smelled.
BELL WORK
 1. What are the 5 steps of the scientific method
process?

 2. What is an independent variable?

 3. What is a dependent variable?

BELL WORK
True or False
1.Independent variables affect dependent
variables.
2.The experimental group is the group that is
tested during an experiment.

3. Name the 5 steps in order

BELL WORK
1. Which variable remains constant?

2. Which variable do you measure and have no

control over?

3. Which variable to your control?

BELL WORK
 True or False
1. To analyze means to consider the detail
and subject in order to discover the
meaning.
2. It is okay to have bias when performing
scientific experiments.
3. The experimental group is the one being
tested in an experiment.
4. The control group is used to compare
results to the experimental group in an
experiment.