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How Do We Do Science: The Scientific Method

The document outlines the steps of the scientific method process for designing and conducting an experiment. It discusses planning the experiment, which includes forming a research question, identifying variables, developing a hypothesis and procedure. It also addresses the data collection and processing phase, as well as analyzing results to form a conclusion and evaluation. Students are then instructed to design their own food-related experiment applying these scientific method principles.

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Brian Neises
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136 views14 pages

How Do We Do Science: The Scientific Method

The document outlines the steps of the scientific method process for designing and conducting an experiment. It discusses planning the experiment, which includes forming a research question, identifying variables, developing a hypothesis and procedure. It also addresses the data collection and processing phase, as well as analyzing results to form a conclusion and evaluation. Students are then instructed to design their own food-related experiment applying these scientific method principles.

Uploaded by

Brian Neises
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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For Your Information (FYI)

Late Assignments
- any assignment not in the box by
3:30 on the due date is late.
- the assignment must then be in the
box before 3:30 two days later or it is
a zero and potentially a meeting with
your parents.
Scientific Method

Scientific Experiments can be broken down


into 3 main categories:
1st - Planning
2nd - Data Collection and Processing
3rd - Conclusion and Evaluation
PLANNING

I. Research Question
A. Is testable (can be measured)
B. Does not try to test too much
C. You don't already know the answer!
PLANNING
II. Variables – how I will make it a fair test
A. Independent variable
1. What I will change
2. Always graphed on the x-axis
B. Dependent variable
1. What I will measure
2. Always graphed on the y-axis
C. Controlled
1. What variables will you keep the same
2. Must be part of the procedure to make
sure they are the same!
PLANNING
D. Examples
1. Time (sec., min., hr., days)
2. Temperature (°C)
3. Jumping Jacks
4. Speed (m/s; km/h; kmph)
5. Distance / Length (mm, cm km)
6. Age
7. Height
8. Shoe Size
PLANNING

III. Hypothesis
A. Prediction: what I think will happen
B. Reasons: why I think it will happen
C. Written in an “If. . .then. . . because”
format
PLANNING

IV. Procedure
A. Clear and easy to follow
B. Contains all the information needed to
do the experiment exactly like you did.
C. Does not contain extra information.
PLANNING

V. Materials
A. What I will need to do this lab
B. Be specific
1. Not “water” or “ruler”,
2. but “250 ml of water”
or “30 cm ruler”
Data Collection and Processing

VI. Raw Data Table


A. Data table used to record your data
during the lab experiment.
1. Independent variable on the left
2. Dependent variable on the right
B. Complete BEFORE you do the actual
experiment!
Data Collection and Processing
VII. Observations
A. Describe in words anything you observed that is not in
the data table
B. Record things that seemed different or strange
VIII. Data Processing
A. Use words and math to describe what the data table
'says'
B. Look for patterns and trends
C. Change the data:
1. mean, median, mode, and range
2. totals
3. differences
Data Collection and Processing
IX. Processed Data Table
A. New table created with processed data.
B. Will be a smaller table with only the
independent variable and the processed
data.
X. Graph
A. Independent variable on the x-axis
B. Dependent variable on the y-axis
Conclusion and Evaluation

XI. Conclusion
A. Tell how your research question was
answered
B. How was your hypothesis supported
or contradicted by the data?
C. You cannot PROVE anything correct,
only wrong!
Conclusion and Evaluation
XII. Evaluation
A. Explain anything that happened that you did not expect
B. Identify sources of error
1. Ones you know about
2. Ones you suspect
C. Discuss the significance of the error
D. Improvements to avoid the error next time
XIII. Next Testable Question
A. What does this new answer make you think about
next?
B. Write a new question that you could test next
Show it!
First the teacher designed and ran the experiment,
Then the teacher designed the experiment, but you ran it.
Now you will . . .
DESIGN YOUR OWN EXPERIMENT
1) In your lab groups design an experiment involving
food (you will need to bring it to school yourselves)
2) Make sure it can be done in one double period
3) Use all your resources to plan well!

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