Objective: Describe the methods scientists use when trying to solve a problem

Drill: List steps scientists may use when trying to solve a problem.

September 23, 2010

The Scientific Method

What is the Scientific What is the Scientific Method?Method?

Series of steps used by scientists to help solve a problem

1) Make observations2) State the problem3) Form a Hypothesis4) Design an Experiment 5) Collect Data6) Form a Conclusion7) Retest

It attempts to minimize the influence of a scientist’s bias, a particular preference or point of view that is personal rather than scientific.

Observations

Information that is collected through any of the senses (sight, touch, etc.)

Example: You may observe that plants given more fertilizer are growing more.

Problem

The problem is the question, in which you are trying to find an answer.

Usually, based upon initial observation of an event

Example: How does the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth?

Hypothesis

A prediction about the outcome of the problem; “educated guess”

Written in the “If…then” format

Example: If the amount of fertilizer used is increased, then plant growth will increase.

Experiment

A procedure designed to test the hypothesis

Controlled Experiment It is important that an experiment is

conducted under controlled conditions:

Controlled experiment: Experiment in which only one factor or variable is changed

The other factors that are kept the same or unchanged are called the, control variables.

Examples: amount of water, type of plant, location of plants, etc.

Other Components of a Controlled Experiment

Independent variable vs. Dependent variable

Experimental group vs. Control group

Independent Variable vs. Dependent Variable

Problem: How does the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth?

Independent Variable: The factor the experimenter manipulates or controls

(Example: amount of fertilizer)

Dependent variable: The factor that is being measured; responds to independent variable

(Example: plant growth)

Experimental Group Control Group vs.

There are 2 categories of groups in an experiment:

Experimental Group: Group that receives the treatment or the independent variable

(Example: plants that receive fertilizer)

Control group: Group that serves as a standard of comparison or a constant. The independent variable is either not present or set at a standard value.

(Examples: plants with no fertilizer)

Collecting Data Results of the experiment

2 types of data:

Quantitative- measured numerically

Examples: length, time, mass, temperature, volume, etc.

Qualitative- observations made with your senses

Examples: Color, texture, smell, etc.

Conclusion

An explanation of your data based upon analysis

Data from the experiment is used to either reject or accept your hypothesis

Retest

Repeat an experiment in order to make sure that the results are accurate.

Communicating Results

Scientists share their findings with the scientific community by publishing articles that have undergone peer review.

In peer review, scientific papers are reviewed by anonymous, independent experts.

Reviewers read them looking for oversights, unfair influences, fraud, or mistakes in techniques or reasoning.

Theory Evidence from many scientific studies may

support several related hypotheses in a way that inspires researchers to propose a theory that ties those hypotheses together.

Theory: An explanation that is supported by considerable experimental evidence resulting from many tests of related hypotheses

No theory is considered absolute truth. As new evidence is uncovered, a theory may be revised or replaced by a more useful explanation.