Scientific Method Notes

back of pg. 2 in

packet

Scientific Method- The series of steps that scientists use to answer questions and solve problems.

6 steps to scientific method:

1. Ask a question

2. Form a hypothesis

3. Test your hypothesis

4. Analyze the results

5. Draw conclusions

6. Communicate results.

Observations-occur when you use your senses to gather information.

Hypothesis-is a clear statement of what you expect the answer to your question to be. In the form of IF…THEN…

Prediction- is what you think will be the outcome of your experiment or data collection.

Controlled experiment-tests only one factor at a time.

It has a control group and one or more experimental groups.

All the factors for the control and experimental groups are the same except for one factor, which is called the variable.

Control- a part of the experiment that is not being tested and is used for comparison.

Variable- any part of an experiment that can vary.

Independent Variable- The part of the experiment that is manipulated or changed by the scientists or person performing the experiment.

Dependent Variable- The part of the experiment that is affected by the independent variable.