The scientific method is a process for gathering and evaluating information through observation and experimentation. It involves making an observation, asking a question, researching background information, developing a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis through experimentation, analyzing data collected, and reporting conclusions. The key steps are to identify variables, form a testable hypothesis, design an experiment to test the hypothesis by manipulating variables and collecting data, then analyzing results to evaluate if they support the original hypothesis.

1. The Scientific Method

2. The Awareness Test
http://youtu.be/Ahg6qcgoay4

3. What is the Scientific Method?
• An organized plan for gathering,
organizing and communicating data
• The basic steps that scientists follow in
uncovering facts and solving scientific
problems ( a plan for solving a problem).
• Six or Seven Steps - depends on source

4. What is the Scientific Method?
• Make an Observation
• Ask a Question
• Complete Background Research
• Develop a Hypothesis
• Test your Hypothesis
• Analyze the Data
• Conclusion (Report and Share)

5. Step 1: Observation
• Everything starts with an observation
• What you perceive with your senses
What can you
observe about a
piece of paper?

6. Step 2: Forming a Question
• Based on your observations
• Develop a question or problem that can
be solved through experimentation.
Can you form a
question about
paper folding?
• Usually a “How’ or “Why” question

7. Step 2: Forming a Question
How many times
can you fold a
piece of paper?

8. Step 3: Complete Background
Research
• Collect knowledge needed to know
about the subject of the experiment
• It will be used to form a
hypothesis

9. Step 4: Develop a Hypothesis
• Hypothesis = an educated prediction to
the answer of the stated problem
• Based on research and prior knowledge
Not a W.U.G. !
(Wild
Uneducated
Guess)

10. Step 4: Develop a Hypothesis
• A proposed answer to your question
• There is no right or wrong hypothesis
Using our
question lets
develop a
hypothesis.

11. Format of Hypothesis
• Two accepted formats:
“I think…because…”
Or
“If…then…because…”
• Both formats include the all important
“because statement” used to justify your
prediction.

12. Step 5: Testing Your Hypothesis
• This is where you conduct an experiment (a
situation specially set up to observe how
something happens or to test your
hypothesis)
• Develop a set of repeatable methods
• The goal is to test your hypothesis by collecting
data

13. Step 5: Testing Your Hypothesis
• Includes variables - a quantity that is
measured or changed during the
experiment
Term Definition
Independent
Variable
What you are changing in the experiment
Dependent
Variable
The outcome caused by changing the
independent variable, a measurement
Control Used for comparison in your experiment
Constant What stays the same from one experiment
to the next

14. Step 5: Testing Your Hypothesis
What are our variables in the paper folding experiment?
independent variable cause
dependent variable effect
control comparison
constant unchanging

15. Step 6: Collect and Analyze the
Data
• Interpret the data you
gathered from your
experiment
• Observations, information and data are collected
from the experiment
• Organize the data and perform calculations

16. Step 6: Collect and Analyze the
Data
• Construct charts, graphs, averages,
percentages, etc.
Dependent
Variable
on the Y-axis
Independent Variable
on the X-axis
How would you
graph the
paper folding
experiment?

17. Step 7: Conclusion
• Does your data support your
hypothesis?
You just made a
scientific discovery.
YES
Revise or make a
new hypothesis and
test again.
NO

18. Step 7: Conclusion (Sharing)
• A summary of results,
the answer to your
question.
• What were the possible
sources of error?
• Does your data (answer)
support your hypothesis?
Why or why not?
What conclusion can you make about paper folding?

19. What about a huge sheet of paper?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRAEBbotuIE&feature=share&list=TLWRT4dnDchcU

20. Why use the Scientific Method?
• A logical way to problem solve - in all
aspects of life.
• A way to share information that can be
proved or disproved.
• A way to find new information