The document outlines the scientific method, which is a logical, organized process for solving problems. It involves defining the problem, collecting background information, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis through experimentation, making and recording observations, drawing a conclusion, and potentially establishing a scientific law or theory. The key steps are to state the question, make an educated guess about the answer, design a controlled experiment to test the guess, carefully observe and record results, and use the results to draw a conclusion about whether the hypothesis was supported or needs revision.

1. THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE
Using the Scientific Method

2. The Scientific Method
A logical, organized way of solving problems.
• Define the Problem
• Collect Background
Information
• Form a Hypothesis
• Test the Hypothesis
• Make and Record
Observations
• Draw a Conclusion

3. Defining the Problem & Collecting
Background Information
• Identify the problem.
• Example: What are
the effects of acid rain
on salamanders?
• Collect information
about the problem.
• Example: We should
know the normal
development of
salamanders as well as
the characteristics of
areas that are affected
by acid rain.

4. FORMULATE A HYPOTHESIS
• An educated guess
• A proposed answer to
the question or
problem.
• A statement that can
be tested

5. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS
p.1/2
• An experiment is a controlled procedure
designed to test a hypothesis.
• In an experiment, one variable, or condition,
is changed and the response of another
variable is measured.

6. THE EXPERIMENT p.2/2
• Independent variable:
the condition that is
varied (or changed).
• Dependent variable:
the condition that
responds to the
changes in the I.V.
• To be a controlled
experiment, it must have
two identical groups:
• Experimental group-
the group that is
exposed to the changes
in the I.V.
• Control group- the
group that is not
exposed to changes.

7. MAKING & RECORDING
OBSERVATIONS p. 1/4
• Must keep careful records.
• Must state how the experiment was planned,
carried out, materials & equipment used, and
how long it took.
• Must record all observations made.

8. MAKING & RECORDING
OBSERVATIONS p.2/4
• May include:
drawings, tables,
graphs, diagrams,
written observations,
photographs or even
sound recordings.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Area
A
Area
B
Area
C
Area
D
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3

9. OBSERVATIONS VS.
INFERENCES p.3/4
• Observation- an
examination of
something in
nature. Detected
by any of the five
senses.
• Inference- a
judgement based
on your
observation. It is
a personal
opinion.

10. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
p.1/2
• The answer to a
scientific question is
formulated by drawing
a conclusion based on
data (scientific facts
collected during the
experiment)
• Statistics help form
the conclusion.

11. CONCLUSIONS p.2/2
• Before accepting conclusions, scientists
retest their hypotheses several times. Later
other scientists repeat the experiment until
the hypothesis and the conclusion are
supported or rejected.

12. LAW/THEORY p.1/2
• When a hypothesis explains how “facts of
nature” occurs, it becomes scientific
principle or law. Example: Law of Gravity
• When a hypothesis explains why “natural”
events occur through observations and
investigations over a long period of time, it
becomes a theory. Example: Theory of
Evolution

13. THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE
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