The

Scientific
Method
 What is science?
• “Science” is simply a logical way of thinking
about the world.
• Scientists use observations about the world
around them to make inferences (logical
guesses or predictions)
• Science is always
changing and growing
as new information
becomes known.
What is the scientific method?
• The scientific method is a term used to
describe the way in which scientists gather
and use information.
• Step 1: State the Problem or Question based on
observations
• Step 2: Gather information (research)
• Step 3: Form a hypothesis
– A hypothesis is a guess based on what you already know
• Step 4: Test the hypothesis by making an experiment
• Step 5: Collect & Analyze data
• Step 6: Draw conclusions
• If the data does not support the hypothesis, a new
hypothesis is made and the process starts again.
• Step 7: Share information with others (report your
findings)
• You use the scientific
method every day.
• Example: You get home
from a friend’s house,
put your key in the lock,
and can’t open the door.
• Here goes the scientific
method…
• State the problem/question:
Why can’t I open the door?
• Gather information: My key isn’t
turning.
• Hypothesis: I used the wrong
key.
• Experiment: Use a different key.
• Collect data: Next key does turn
in the lock.
• Conclusion: Since the other key
opens the door, I must have used
the wrong key the first time.
• Hypothesis supported.
 How is a hypothesis formed?
• A hypothesis is a testable explanation
for a question or problem.
• We often use logical reasoning to
form a hypothesis.
– Inductive Reasoning: looks for patterns
or rules in the natural world.
– Deductive Reasoning: compares new
things to the rules of the natural world.
 Inductive Reasoning Example
• This animal is a bird and it has
feathers, that animal is a bird,
it has feathers. Rule or
pattern- “All birds have
feathers”
• Developing a
“Rule of Nature”
from many
observations
Deductive Reasoning Examples
• If all birds have feathers and this thing
has feathers, then it must be a bird.
• If electricity is needed to turn on the
lights and they are not on, then there is
no electricity going to the lights.
• If a light needs a filament to turn on and
it is not working, then the filament is
burnt out.
What is a controlled experiment?
A controlled experiment is one that only changes
one variable at a time.
Changing too many variables in one experiment
makes it difficult to understand the results.
Examples:
– Two groups of people get a pill. One group gets a pill
that contains the new drug to be tested (the
experimental group), and the other (the control group)
gets a pill that does not contain the drug.
– Two groups of students are taught algebra. One uses a
new method (the experimental group), and the other
(the control group) uses the old way.
Parts of a controlled experiment:
1. Controls= what are you keeping
the same?
2. Independent variable= what are
you changing?
3. Dependent variable= what are
you measuring as a result?
 Summary
• The scientific method is an everyday
process using observations to make a
prediction. This prediction (called a
hypothesis) is made using inductive
or deductive reasoning and tested in
a controlled experiment.
 How is data used?
Data can be organized into charts, graphs, or tables.
These can help scientists see their results in an easily
readable format
• Data is divided into two categories:
– 1. Qualitative data: descriptions, words
– 2. Quantitative data: numbers, measurements
• The independent variable goes on the X axis
• The dependent variable goes on the Y axis
Dependent Descriptive
variable The Effects of Salt on Plant Growth title
7

6
Height of plant (cm)

0
1 2 3 4 5

Independen Amount of salt added (g)

Units
t variable
How do scientists form conclusions?
A conclusion either supports or
rejects the hypothesis.
Is our conclusion proof that our hypothesis is true
or false?
No! Science is not used to prove that something
is TRUE. We can disprove something (by doing an
experiment that shows that a hypothesis is
wrong) or we can be fairly certain that our
hypothesis is correct.
By repeating the
experiment, we can
be more confident
of our results.

Sharing data with

others helps the
whole scientific
community to
further our
knowledge.
 Summary
• Qualitative or quantitative data
can be gathered into charts,
tables, or graphs for
interpretation. Conclusions can
support the hypothesis, especially
if the experiment is repeated.