Scientific Method

Miss. Bushra Thebyan

Medical Scientist
 What is the Scientific Method?
• Every single one of us is a scientist in our own way
• Some of the most important science work starts when
people question why things are happening the way they do
• Today we are going to learn about the steps in the
Scientific Method and brainstorm some ideas on how to
create our own experiement.
 Step 1: Ask A Question
TAKE NOTES!!!

• Observation: watching things going on around you,

noticing trends and developing questions.
• Scientific observations don’t have to be about typical
“science stuff”, they can be about people, clothes, food or
whatever interests you!

• What are some things that you have observed that you
have questions about????????
 Develop a Question
Take Notes

• Not every question is a good question that can be tested.

• We are going to focus on “testable” questions, or questions that we
can do experiments on.
• They CAN NOT be opinion questions, for example pizza tastes better
than vegetables!
• You must be able to measure the results in some way for it to be
considered a testable question.
• How do students learn best?
• Does Bacteria Grow on your toothbrush?
• Does talking to your plant really help them grow?
 Small Group Activity :
Write a testable question
• I will be making sure you are all executing your assigned
role & grading participation!!!!!
• Write a testable question for each ideas for experiments.
 Step 2: Conduct Research
• We conduct research to narrow our question into a
Hypothesis
• Sources of Research are: the internet, library, expert or
professional, and any other academic resource
 Step 3: Hypothesis
Take Notes
• A hypothesis is a special kind of prediction that predicts
how changing one part of an experiment will affect
results.
• It is NOT a guess
• It is an informed and well thought out prediction that
requires background information
• You can think of it as a cause-effect statement.
 Hypothesis:
• A hypothesis is best written in the “If ___________, then ____________”
• Here is an example of a hypothesis:
1. If the temperature of sea water increases, then the amount
of salt that dissolves in the water increases.

***Not all questions lend themselves to the “If______, then ______.”

format. However, almost all of the experiments we will do in this
class will work in this format.
How to Transition a Question into a
Hypothesis:
• Question: What type of pizza if preferred by fifth graders?
• Hypothesis: If fifth graders are questioned about pizza
preference then they will prefer cheese.
• Question: How does the amount of daylight affect how
may eggs a chicken produces?
• Hypothesis: If the amount of daylight increases, then the
chickens will produce more eggs.
 Change these Questions into a
Hypothesis:
• Question: How does room temperature affect student
performance?
• Hypothesis:
• Question: How does the color of a surface affect its
temperature?
• Hypothesis:
 Coin Flip Experiment
(Groups of 2)
• Question: If I flip a coin 50 times, how many times will it land “heads
up”?
• Hypothesis: If I flip a coin 50 times, then___________________.
• Procedure:
• 1. Predict how many “heads up” flips you will get.
• 2. Create a table to record results.
• 3. Designate one person to flip the coin, and the other to record
results.
• 4. Flip the same coin 50 times and record (with tally marks) the
number of “heads up” and “tails up” results.
 Step 4: Experiment
Take Notes

• The procedure is the writing of the materials used and steps

followed when conducting an investigation.
• The material list must be complete
• The steps must be in order and understandable so the activity can
be repeated.
• Other scientists should be able to look at your procedure and easily
follow your steps in order to get the same results.
• PROCEDURES ARE BEST WRITTEN AS A NUMBERED
SEQUENCE!!
 Step 4: Experiment
• To practice writing a procedure, think about our “Coin
Flip” Experiment.
• In your science notebooks, write the procedure for the
activity.
• ****Make sure it is in a numbered sequence!!!
 Variables
Take Notes

• Variables are conditions that could affect the outcome of

an experiment.
• For example, think about the different things that may
have affected the coin flip activity. The height of the flip,
the weight of the coin, the size of the coin or how fast you
performed each flip.
• Can you think of any others????
 Variables
Develop at least 3 variable for each of the following:

1. What variables can affect the number of fish in a lake?

2. What variables can affect the attendance at a baseball
game?
3. What variables can affect how well a student does on a
Math test?
4. What variables can affect the taste of a soda?
5. What variables can affect the amount of fruit an apple
tree produces?
 Identifying Variables
Take Notes

• It is important to identify the variable in any experiment.

• You want as few variables as possible when conducting an
experiment.
• You will always have 3 types of variables:
• Independent
• Dependent
• Control (also called constant)
 Independent Variables vs. Dependent Variables
Take Notes

• The independent variable is what you change on purpose in an experiment.

Independent Variable:* The factor you change (e.g., amount of sunlight).
• The dependent variable is what you measure in an experiment.
Dependent Variable:* The factor you measure (e.g., plant growth).
• The control is the condition or conditions that remain the same in an
investigation.
- Control Variable:* The factors you keep the same to ensure a fair test (e.g.,
water, soil type).
• For Example: What variables could affect the sprouting of a bean seed??
Small Group Activity: Identifying Variables

• Experiment 1: Two groups of students were tested to

compare their speed working on math problems. Each
group was given the same problems. One group used
calculators and the other group did not.
• What is the independent variable?
• What is the dependent variable?
• What is the control/constant?
 Variables continued….
• Experiment 2: Students of different ages were given the
same puzzle to assemble. The assembly time was
measured.
• What is the independent variable?
• What is the dependent variable?
• What is the constant/control variable?
 Step 5: Analyze Data
Tables & Graphs to Display Data:
Take Notes

• Tables and graphs are a way for people to see the data you
have collected during an experiment.
• Data can be analyzed quickly and accurately by using
tables and graphs.
• Independent variables go on the y-axis (vertical)
• Dependent variables go on the x-axis (horizontal)
 Tables:
• Each table should have a title
• The first column in the table lists the items to be
compared (independent variable)
• The first row of the table lists the specific characteristics
being compared (dependent variable).
• Data is recorded within the grid of the table.
 Table Example:
Title: Coin Flips

Coin Side

Heads

Tails
 Step 6: Report
Results/Conclusion:
• 1. State the facts
• 2. Say why….
• 3. Discuss any questions you still have, what you might
have done differently, any sources of error, and what future
testing you might do to make your results more
meaningful.
• The conclusion is at least a paragraph or more and should
explain the results of the lab and what you learned by
doing it.