Scientific Inquiry Scientific Inquiry InvestigationInvestigation

Scientific Scientific MethodMethod

1. State the problem1. State the problem

• as an inquiry question ????as an inquiry question ????

• What is the effect ofWhat is the effect of ____________________ ( (independent independent variablevariable -manipulated factor) -manipulated factor) onon _________ _________ ((dependent dependent variablevariable -responding factor that -responding factor that is observed and measured)?is observed and measured)?

• Ex. What is the effect of Ex. What is the effect of acid acid rain (I)rain (I) on on limestone (D)limestone (D)??

• Ex. What is the effect of Ex. What is the effect of light (I)light (I) on on Sow bugs (D)Sow bugs (D)??

How do you come up How do you come up with the questions?with the questions?

• An An educatededucated guess guess• PredictionPrediction

IfIf ________ (independent variable), ________ (independent variable),

thenthen _________ (dependent _________ (dependent variable).variable).

Ex. Ex. IfIf I leave a popsicle out in the I leave a popsicle out in the sunsun, , thenthen it will melt.it will melt.

2. Form a hypothesis2. Form a hypothesis

3. Background Information3. Background Information

• Explain what led you to choose the Explain what led you to choose the topic and question.topic and question.

• Why do you think your hypothesis is Why do you think your hypothesis is correct?correct?

• What do you already know about What do you already know about the topic and question that helped you the topic and question that helped you form your hypothesis?form your hypothesis?

• What have you researched that What have you researched that tells you your hypothesis is tells you your hypothesis is correct.correct.

• Did you use your five senses?Did you use your five senses?

Background Information (cont.)

4. Procedure4. Procedure

• Materials: what is needed to Materials: what is needed to do the experiment? Include do the experiment? Include amounts.amounts.

• Step-by-step instructionsStep-by-step instructionsList in step-by-List in step-by-

step order what needs to be step order what needs to be done to perform done to perform experiment and test experiment and test hypothesis (be specific!).hypothesis (be specific!).

Procedure (cont.)Procedure (cont.)

• Multiple trials to get accurate and Multiple trials to get accurate and valid data.valid data.

• Control variable-factor that never Control variable-factor that never changes during an experiment.changes during an experiment. Ex. If you wanted to know how the sun Ex. If you wanted to know how the sun

affects the ripeness of grapes, you affects the ripeness of grapes, you would need two set-ups. would need two set-ups.

• QualQualititative: observations of ative: observations of behaviors using 5 senses or behaviors using 5 senses or conducting surveys over time.conducting surveys over time.

• QuantQuantititative: measurements ative: measurements displayed in tables, graphs, displayed in tables, graphs, charts, diagrams, drawings.charts, diagrams, drawings. Use correct unitsUse correct units Use totals/averagesUse totals/averages

5. Record/Organize Data5. Record/Organize Data

Record/OrganizeRecord/Organize Data (Cont.)Data (Cont.)

• Daily Recording- need a journal Daily Recording- need a journal notebook to record everything notebook to record everything done before, during, and after done before, during, and after each run of the experiment.each run of the experiment.

• State whether your hypothesis is State whether your hypothesis is

correct or not based on resultscorrect or not based on results

The data The data does/does notdoes/does not support support

my hypothesis.my hypothesis.

• Explain how the Explain how the

results/observations support results/observations support

hypothesis- use data!!hypothesis- use data!!

6. Conclusion (paragraph form 6. Conclusion (paragraph form and complete sentences)and complete sentences)

Conclusion (cont.)Conclusion (cont.)

• Explain the scientific concept of your Explain the scientific concept of your

scientific inquiry.scientific inquiry.

The results show thatThe results show that ________ ________ becausebecause

________.________.

• Any errors/problems that may have affected Any errors/problems that may have affected

your results? How can the experiment be your results? How can the experiment be

done differently?done differently?

Is there a different independent variable Is there a different independent variable

that you could test?that you could test?