The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

Life Science – Module 2Life Science – Module 2

Scientific MethodScientific Method

What is the Scientific Method?What is the Scientific Method? It is a It is a process process that is used to find that is used to find

answers answers to questions about the to questions about the world around us.world around us.

Is there only one “scientific method”?Is there only one “scientific method”? No, there are several versions of the No, there are several versions of the

scientific method.scientific method. Some versions have more Some versions have more stepssteps, ,

while others may have only a few.while others may have only a few.

However, they all begin with the However, they all begin with the identification of a identification of a problemproblem or a or a question question to be answered based on to be answered based on observations of the world around us observations of the world around us and provide an and provide an organizedorganized method method for conducting and analyzing an for conducting and analyzing an experiment.experiment.

HypothesisHypothesis

What is a hypothesis?What is a hypothesis? It is an It is an educated guesseducated guess based on based on

observations and your knowledge of observations and your knowledge of the topic.the topic.

DataData

What is data?What is data? It is It is information information gathered during gathered during

the experiment.the experiment.

Identify the ProblemIdentify the Problem

What do you want to know or explain?What do you want to know or explain?

Use observations you have made to Use observations you have made to write a question that addresses the write a question that addresses the

problem or topic you want to problem or topic you want to investigate.investigate.

Form a HypothesisForm a Hypothesis

What do you think will happen? What do you think will happen? Predict the answer to your question Predict the answer to your question or the outcome of the experiment.or the outcome of the experiment.

Write it in a form of a statement!Write it in a form of a statement!

Create an ExperimentCreate an Experiment

How will you test your hypothesis? How will you test your hypothesis? Develop a procedure for a reliable Develop a procedure for a reliable

experiment and address safety rules.experiment and address safety rules.

Perform an ExperimentPerform an Experiment

Follow the steps in your procedure to Follow the steps in your procedure to perform your experiment. Record perform your experiment. Record

data and observations!data and observations!

Analyze the DataAnalyze the Data

Is the data reliable? Does your data Is the data reliable? Does your data and observations from the and observations from the

experiment support your hypothesis? experiment support your hypothesis?

If yes…If yes…

Communicate the ResultsCommunicate the Results

Write a conclusion that summarizes Write a conclusion that summarizes the important parts of your the important parts of your experiment and the results.experiment and the results.

If no…If no…

Is your data inaccurate or the Is your data inaccurate or the experiment flawed?experiment flawed?

Modify the ExperimentModify the Experiment

Rewrite your procedure to address the Rewrite your procedure to address the flaws in the original experimentflaws in the original experiment

Introduction to Science and the Introduction to Science and the Scientific MethodScientific Method

The goal of science is to investigate The goal of science is to investigate and understand the natural world, to and understand the natural world, to explain events in the natural world, explain events in the natural world, and to use those explanations to and to use those explanations to make useful predictionsmake useful predictions

ScienceScience

1.1. Science deals only with the natural world.Science deals only with the natural world.

2.2. Scientists collect and organize information Scientists collect and organize information in a careful, orderly way, looking for in a careful, orderly way, looking for patterns and connections between events.patterns and connections between events.

3.3. Scientists propose explanations that can be Scientists propose explanations that can be tested by examining evidencetested by examining evidence

4.4. Science is an organized way of using Science is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.evidence to learn about the natural world.

How is Science Done?How is Science Done?

1.1. Science begins with observations. Science begins with observations. This is the process of gathering This is the process of gathering information about events or information about events or processed in a careful, orderly way.processed in a careful, orderly way.

2.2. Data is the information gathered Data is the information gathered from making observations.from making observations.

3.3. There are two types of data:There are two types of data:a.a. Quantitative data are numbers and are Quantitative data are numbers and are

obtained by counting or measuring.obtained by counting or measuring.

b.b. Qualitative data are descriptions and Qualitative data are descriptions and involve characteristics that cannot be involve characteristics that cannot be counted.counted.

4.4. HypothesisHypothesis

a. A hypothesis is a scientific a. A hypothesis is a scientific explanation for a set of explanation for a set of observationsobservations

b. A hypothesis must be stated in a b. A hypothesis must be stated in a way that makes it “testable”. The way that makes it “testable”. The hypothesis is just a possible answer hypothesis is just a possible answer to a question, and it must be to a question, and it must be thoroughly tested.thoroughly tested.

Scientific MethodsScientific Methods

The scientific method is a series of The scientific method is a series of steps used by scientists to solve a steps used by scientists to solve a problem or answer a question.problem or answer a question.