The document outlines the steps of the scientific method, including identifying a problem, gathering information, formulating a hypothesis, designing experiments, and analyzing data. It provides a practical example of a student named John who investigates the effect of sugar on bread rising, illustrating the entire process from hypothesis to conclusion. The summary emphasizes the importance of experimentation, data collection, and communication of results in scientific inquiry.

1. Steps of Scientific
Method
Theory
Lecture # 3 & 4
HND-603
Research Planning and Scientific Writing
3(3-0)
Semester 7th

2. Contents
• Scientific method
• Introduction
• Steps of scientific method
• Practical Example
• Summary

3. Introduction to the Scientific Method
• A logical, problem
solving technique

4. Introduction to the Scientific Process
Identify a
problem
Gather
Information
Formulate a
hypothesis
Design and
Experiment
Record and
Organize Data
Analyze Data
Draw
Conclusions
Use conclusions to develop a new hypothesis

5. Step 1: Identify a Problem
• Observe the world around you
• Using observations, identify a problem you would
like to solve
• This is a question you DO NOT know the answer to
and can’t look up.
• “Why” and “What would happen if..” are good
beginnings of scientific questions.

6. Step 2: Gather Information
• Use references to do
background research
• Books
• Journals
• Magazines
• Internet
• TV
• Videos
• Interview Experts
www.goldstarexterminators.net

7. Step 3: Formulate a Hypothesis
• Possible answer to a question that can be tested
• Based on observations and knowledge
• “If” “Then” “Because” statement
• Example:
If soil temperature rises, plant growth will rise
Do we use observation or inference to
formulate a hypothesis?

8. Step 4: Develop an Experiment
Materials:
• Induce a detailed
material list
• Supplies
Procedure
• Step by step
instructions
• Identifies the
variables used in the
experiment
How would you describe how to make a Peanut Butter
and chicken Sandwich to someone who had never done
it?
To someone who didn’t know what peanut butter?

9. Step 5: Analyze Data
• “Modify the procedure if needed
• Confirm the result by retesting
• Compare and look for trends and patterns using
graphs

10. Step 6: Make Conclusions
• You must repeat the experiment to make the data
valid
• You should run your experiment at least 3 times to
confirm your results
• You can run all the experiments at one time, or
run one after the other
• Each separate experiment is called a Repetition
(or Rep).

11. Step 7: Communicate the
Result
• Be prepared to present the project to the
audience.
• Except question from the audience.

12. Problem/ Question
• John watches his grandmother
• bake a bread
• He asked his grandmother what
• makes the bread rise.
• She explains that yeast releases
• a gas as it feeds on sugar

13. Observation/ Research
• John research the areas of baking fermentation
• To test his question
• He keeps all his information in a journal

15. Formulate a Hypothesis
• If more sugar is added, then more bread will rise
• Educated guess
• Relationship between independent and
dependent variables

16. Independent
Variable
• Factor that
intentionally varied by
the experimenter.
• Example:
• Amount of Sugar 25g,
50g,100g, 250g,
500g
Dependent
Variable
• Factor that change
due to change
independent
variable.
• Example:
Size of loaf

17. Control Group
• Serve as standard of comparison
• No treatment
• Exposed to same conditions
• Except for variable being tested
• Grandmother uses 50g of sugar
• Jonh use the amount in his control group

18. Constants
• Keep all other factors same
• Observe changes in bread
• Due to sugar amount
• Example
• Bread recipe, oven used rise time, cooking time,
type of pan temperature and humidity, Age of
yeast

19. Experiment
• John writes out his procedure along with
material list
• Trial:
John test each sugar variable 3 times

20. Collect and analyze the result
• John use table to gather data
Size of bread loaf
Amount of
sugar g
1 2 3 Average
size cm2
25 768 744 761 758
50 control
group
1296 1188 1296 1296
100 1188 1080 1080 1116
250 672 576 588 612
500 432 504 360 432

21. • John rejected his hypothesis
• Retest using amount of sugar between 50g to
100g
• Once again gather his material and carries out
his experiment

22. Size of Baked Bread
Size of
bread loaf
Amount of
sugar g
1 2 3 Average
size cm2
50 1296 1440 1296 1344
60 1404 1296 1440 1380
70 1638 1638 1560 1612
80 1404 1296 1296 1332
90 1080 1200 972 1084

23. Conclusion
• John finds that 70g of sugar produces the largest
loaf. His hypothesis is accepted

24. Communicate the result
• John tell his grandmother
• Prepares the project to present in his science
class

25. Summary
• What is Question ?
• Gathered all the information related to
experiment.
• Hypothesis either approved or rejected.
• Performed the experiment
• Collected and organized the results.
• Conclusion
• Shared the information