THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE

Using the Scientific Method

 The Scientific Method
A logical, organized way of solving problems.

• Define the Problem

• Collect Background
Information
• Form a Hypothesis
• Test the Hypothesis
• Make and Record
Observations
• Draw a Conclusion
 Defining the Problem & Collecting
Background Information

• Collect information
• Identify the problem.
about the problem.
• Example: What are
• Example: We should
the effects of acid rain
know the normal
on salamanders?
development of
salamanders as well as
the characteristics of
areas that are affected
by acid rain.
 FORMULATE A HYPOTHESIS
• An educated guess
• A proposed answer to
the question or
problem.
• A statement that can
be tested
 TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS
p.1/2

• An experiment is a controlled procedure

designed to test a hypothesis.
• In an experiment, one variable, or
condition, is changed and the response of
another variable is measured.
 THE EXPERIMENT p.2/2
• Independent variable: • To be a controlled
experiment, it must have
the condition that is
two identical groups:
varied (or changed).
• Experimental group- the
• Dependent variable: group that is exposed to
the condition that the changes in the I.V.
responds to the • Control group- the
changes in the I.V. group that is not
exposed to changes.
 MAKING & RECORDING
OBSERVATIONS p. 1/4
• Must keep careful
records.
• Must state how the
experiment was planned,
carried out, materials &
equipment used, and
how long it took.
• Must record all
observations made.
 MAKING & RECORDING
OBSERVATIONS p.2/4
• May include: 90
drawings, tables, 80
70
graphs, diagrams, 60
written observations, 50
Species 1
photographs or even 40
Species 2
30
sound recordings. 20
Species 3

10
0
Area A

Area C
Area D
Area B
 OBSERVATIONS VS.
INFERENCES p.3/4

• Observation- an • Inference- a
examination of judgement based
something in on your
nature. Detected observation. It is
by any of the five a personal
senses. opinion.
 DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
p.1/2
• The answer to a
scientific question is
formulated by drawing
a conclusion based on
data (scientific facts
collected during the
experiment)
• Statistics help form
the conclusion.
 CONCLUSIONS p.2/2

• Before accepting conclusions, scientists

retest their hypotheses several times. Later
other scientists repeat the experiment until
the hypothesis and the conclusion are
supported or rejected.
 LAW/THEORY p.1/2

• When a hypothesis explains how “facts of

nature” occurs, it becomes scientific
principle or law. Example: Law of Gravity
• When a hypothesis explains why “natural”
events occur through observations and
investigations over a long period of time, it
becomes a theory. Example: Theory of
Evolution
THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE

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