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Scientific
Method How to solve problems in Science
Scientific Method
Does this sound familiar?
Where are My Shoes?
What should I have for lunch?
What class do I have next?
Did I do my homework for that class?
What is the cure for cancer?
Which deodorant works the longest?
Scientific Method Definition: A way to describe the steps of explaining a
scientific problem.
Note: there are several ways to explain the scientific
method. All methods use the overall process of
scientific investigation.
Let’s talk about the steps…
Problem/Question – Research – Hypothesis –
Experiment - Results/Analysis – Conclusion -
Communication
Scientific Method
Problem/Question/Purpose
Problem – The focus question posed.
The BIG IDEA!
Examples – How did the children
become infected with salmonella?
Why did the plant die?
Why are my neighbor’s tomato plants
so healthy and tall?
Research/Background Knowledge
Research/Background
Investigate the problem.
Make observations and inferences and
gather information related to your
problem that would help you form a
hypothesis.
Hypothesis A possible explanation for a set of
observations or an answer to a scientific question.
A hypothesis should be:
A statement
Backed by information or research
TESTABLE!
Example: Tomato plants with Miracle Grow (a fertilizer) will grow two times faster than tomato plants without.
The Experiment
Testing the hypothesis
An experiment includes:
Materials- the items used in the
experiment
Procedure – the steps you take in the
experiment
Variables – factors that change in an
experiment
Results/Analysis
Recording the observations and data of
the experiment and arranging the results
in an organized way.
Examples – tables, graphs (bar, line,
etc), qualitative observations and
quantitative observations
Conclusion Does the data support the hypothesis? If
so the hypothesis is supported. If not, it is rejected.
A conclusion is a detailed explanation, not just a sentence or two. It explains the data and infers why you got the results that you did.
This is where any ERRORS are mentioned. There are always errors!
A hypothesis can never be proven true, just supported.
Communication
This step is necessary in science so that
the scientific community knows the
findings as well.
This can be a lab report, an article in
a scientific journal, scientific
meetings, etc.
Flowchart for
Scientific
Method
Research
Conclusion
Results
Problem
Experiment
Hypothesis
Flowchart for Scientific Method
Hypothesis
supported
Hypothesis
rejected
Communication
of
Results
Conclusion
Try Again
Is the Scientific
Method a Cycle? Or
does it end with the
last step?
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