The document outlines the basic steps of the scientific method which include observing phenomena, asking questions, forming testable hypotheses, designing controlled experiments to test hypotheses, collecting and recording data, analyzing results, and reporting conclusions.

1. Scientific Method Unit One

2. Observe your surroundings Look Listen Smell Taste Touch Read Watch

3. Ask a question What interests you? What do you want to understand about the world around you?

4. Form a hypothesis This is an educated guess or explanation for a scientific problem. It MUST be testable. Hypotheses are always changing and there may be many for one idea.

5. Design and perform an experiment You need a well designed experiment that will test your hypothesis. A good experiment has only one factor that changes. That factor is called a variable .

6. Record your data Use tables Graphs Written descriptions Can be quantitative data (numbers) or qualitative data (written words)

7. Analyze and draw conclusions Study your data and compare it to your hypothesis. Does it support your prediction or not? What conclusions can you make?

8. Report results to others Scientists share information so that others may learn from experiments that have already been performed.