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Scienific Method

The document describes the scientific method, which is a systematic process used by scientists to solve problems through observation, experimentation, and hypothesis testing. The scientific method involves 5 main steps: 1) identifying a problem, 2) stating a hypothesis, 3) testing the hypothesis through experimentation, 4) forming a conclusion based on analysis of experimental data, and 5) publishing results so other scientists can review and verify. Controlled experimentation is key, where only one variable is changed at a time while keeping all other conditions constant. The goal is to use empirical evidence and reasoning to determine whether a hypothesis is supported or needs revision.

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Paul Victor Tamuria
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89 views

Scienific Method

The document describes the scientific method, which is a systematic process used by scientists to solve problems through observation, experimentation, and hypothesis testing. The scientific method involves 5 main steps: 1) identifying a problem, 2) stating a hypothesis, 3) testing the hypothesis through experimentation, 4) forming a conclusion based on analysis of experimental data, and 5) publishing results so other scientists can review and verify. Controlled experimentation is key, where only one variable is changed at a time while keeping all other conditions constant. The goal is to use empirical evidence and reasoning to determine whether a hypothesis is supported or needs revision.

Uploaded by

Paul Victor Tamuria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The scientific method is a


systematic approach to problem
solving that involves observation
and experimentation.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1. Identify a problem
2. State a hypothesis
3. Test the hypothesis (experiment)
4. Form a conclusion
5. Publish results

Let’s look at these steps in more detail…


1. Identify a Problem
When a scientist observes a phenomenon, it may
occur to them to ask questions…

Why?
How?
What?

When these questions are asked, a scientist has


identified a problem that can be solved using the
scientific method.
1. Identify a Problem
For example:

Observation: the leaves on a


tree have turned from green
to orange.

Problem: why do leaves


change color?
1. Identify a Problem
Once a problem is
identified, a scientist
must then do
research and
gather information to
find out what is already
known about the
problem.
1. Identify a Problem
This information will help
the scientist choose
possible solutions to the
problem.

Which takes us to the


next step….
2. State a hypothesis
A hypothesis is a possible solution of a
scientific problem.

A hypothesis should not be a “wild guess”.

A hypothesis should be based on careful


research into what is already known about
the problem.
3. Test the hypothesis
How does a scientist test a hypothesis?

A scientist can test a hypothesis by designing an


experiment.

An experiment is a procedure to test a


hypothesis under controlled conditions.

In order to have a controlled experiment, it’s important to


focus on only one variable.
3. Test the hypothesis
For example:

If a scientist wanted to study how


different kinds of fertilizer affect plant
growth, they would make sure that the
plants in the study were all the same
kind, that they received the same
amount of water, soil and light, and
that the different types of fertilizer
would be given in the same amount.
3. Test the hypothesis
Independent variable: the factor that is tested in the
experiment.

Dependent variable: a factor that results from, or depends on


changes to, the independent variable.

All other factors must remain constant…

A constant is a factor that does not change in the experiment.


3. Test the hypothesis
The variables in a study of a cause-and-effect relationship are
called the independent and dependent variables.

•The independent variable is the cause. Its


value is independent of other variables in your
study.

•The dependent variable is the effect. Its


value depends on changes in the independent
variable.
3. Test the hypothesis
For example:

If a scientist wanted to study how


different kinds of fertilizer affect plant
growth, they would make sure that the
plants in the study were all the same
kind, that they received the same
amount of water, soil and light, and
that the different types of fertilizer
would be given in the same amount.
3. Test the hypothesis
Examples of dependent and independent variables
3. Test the hypothesis
Examples of dependent and independent variables
3. Test the hypothesis
Examples of dependent and independent variables
3. Test the hypothesis
Examples of dependent and independent variables
3. Test the hypothesis
Control group: the group used for comparison, it
does not contain the independent variable.

Experimental group: the group that is tested. It


contains the independent variable and is
compared to the control group.
Two groups of students were tested
to compare their speed working
math problems. Each group was
given the same problems. One group
used calculators and the other group
computed without calculators.
3. Test the hypothesis
As the experiment progresses, it is
important for a scientist to continue to
make many observations to collect data.

Data: information gained from observations


made during an experiment.

Data can be quantitative (numerical data),


or qualitative (information collected by the
senses).
3. Test the hypothesis
It is also important to
keep a record of
everything that is done
during an experiment so
that the experiment can
be repeated by other
scientists.
4. Form a conclusion
When the
experiment is
concluded,
scientists must
organize the data
they have collected.
4. Form a conclusion
When the experiment is
concluded, scientists
must organize the data
they have collected.

One way of doing this is


to make charts or graphs
of the data.
4. Form a conclusion

Once the data is


organized, a scientist
can then analyze the
data to try and
understand what it
means.
4. Form a conclusion

They can then come to


a conclusion and decide
if their hypothesis was
correct or incorrect.
4. Form a conclusion

In light of their
conclusions, scientists may
revise their hypothesis.

They may then design


another experiment to
test their new hypothesis.
5. Publish results
Scientists must publish results so that
their work can be shared with other
scientists.

This can be in the form of a lab report,


a scientific paper, or even a book.

When other scientists read about the


experiment, they can repeat the steps
to verify the first scientist’s
conclusions.
5. Publish results

This verification process is


called peer review.

Peer review: a formal


process where the results
and methods of a scientist’s
research are examined by
other scientists in the same
field.
The Scientific Method
1. Identify a problem (make observations, ask questions,
gather information, do research)
2. State a hypothesis (based on research)
3. Test the hypothesis (design and conduct an
experiment, make observations, document
procedure)
4. Form a conclusion (organize data, analyze data,
figure out the meaning of the data)
5. Publish results (write a lab report, share information
with other scientists, repeat experiment)
The scientific method is really just
organized common sense.

If you want to solve a problem, you


make observations about the nature of
the problem, think of possible
solutions, and then test those possible
solutions until the problem is solved.

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