©Amy Brown – Science Stuff Page 1

What is Science?
The goal of science is to investigate
and understand the natural world, to
explain events in the natural world, and
to use those explanations to make
useful predictions.

1. Science deals only

with the natural world.
3. Scientists propose
2. Scientists: explanations that can
___________
collect and organize tested by
be ______
information in a careful, examining evidence.
orderly way, looking for
patterns and connections
between events. 4. Science is an organized way
of using evidence to learn about
the natural world. Page 2
 How is Science Done?

Science begins with

observation
an _____________.

This is the process of

gathering information
about events or
processes in a careful,
orderly way.
Data is the information gathered from making
observations. Page 3
There are two types of data:
Quantitative data are: numbers and are
obtained by counting
or measuring.

Qualitative data are:

descriptions
and involve
characteristics
that cannot be
counted.
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 A hypothesis is a
scientific explanation for
a set of observations.

e s i s
oth
Hyp A hypothesis must be
stated in a way that
makes it “testable”. The
hypothesis is just a
possible answer to a
question, and it must be
thoroughly tested. Page 5
Scientific Methods
The scientific method is:
A series of steps used by scientists to
solve a problem or answer a question.

The Steps to the Scientific Method

1. Observation / Asking a Question
2. Form a Hypothesis
3. Design a Controlled Experiment
4. Record and Analyze Results
5. Draw Conclusions

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 Step 1: Step 2: Form a Hypothesis
Observation / Asking a
Question
Hypothesis
A problem or a question A possible explanation
must first be identified. to the question or
problem.
It is simply a prediction and has
not yet been proven or disproven.
It must be stated in a
How much water can a root
way that is testable.
hair absorb?
A statement is
Why does a plant stem bend considered “testable”
toward the light? if evidence can be
collected that either
What effect does does or does not
temperature have on heart support it.
rate? Page 7
 Step 3: Designing a Controlled
Experiment
1. The factors in an experiment that can be changed are called
variables. Some example of variables would be: changing the
temperature, the amount of light present, time, concentration of
solutions used.
2. 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.

3. In a “controlled experiment” only one variable is changed at a time. All other variables should be
unchanged or “controlled”.

4. An experiment is based on the comparison between a ____________

control group with an
experimental group
________________.
a) These two groups are identical except for one factor.
b) The control group serves as the comparison. It is the same as
the experiment group, except that the one variable that is
being tested is removed.
c) The experimental group shows the effect of the variable that is
being tested.

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 Example: In order to test the
effectiveness of a new vaccine, 50
volunteers are selected and divided
into two groups. One group will be
the control group and the other will be
the experimental group. Both groups
are given a pill to take that is identical
in size, shape, color and texture.

Even though the volunteers are given

Describe the control group. identical looking pills, the control group will
not actually receive the vaccine.

Describe the experimental group. This group will receive the vaccine.

What variables are kept constant? The size, shape, color, and texture of
the pill.
What variable is being changed? Whether or not the pill contains the
vaccine.
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 There are two variables in an experiment:
c) In the above
a) The independent example, what is the
variable is the independent
variable that is variable?
deliberately It is the addition of the
changed by the vaccine to the pills
scientist. that were given to the
volunteers.
b) The dependent variable is the d) In the above
one observed during the example, what is
experiment. The dependent the dependent
variable is the data we collect variable?
during the experiment. This
data is collected as a result of The observed
changing the independent health of the people
variable. receiving the pills.
Page 10
Step 4: Recording and Analyzing Results
1. The data that has been collected must be
organized and analyzed to determine whether the
data are reliable.
2. Does the
data support
or not
support the
hypothesis?

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 Step 5: Drawing Conclusions
The evidence from the experiment is used to
determine if the hypothesis is proven or disproven.

Experiments must be
repeated over and
over. When repeated,
the results should
always be the same
before a valid
conclusion can be
reached.

Page 12
 Forming a Theory
A theory may
be formed Theory:
after the A broad and
hypothesis comprehensive
has been statement of
tested many what is thought
times and is to be true.
supported by
much A theory is
evidence. supported by
considerable
evidence.
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