Scientific Method

Design an Experiment

Question: Hypothesis: Materials: Procedure: Independent Variable: Dependent Variable: Controlled Variables:

A controlled experiment

A controlled experiment is a Fair Test. All conditions in an experiment are kept the same except for the experimental variable. The conditions that are kept the same are called Controls or Controlled Variables. Only one condition is changed in an experiment. This is the Experimental Variable.

Construct a Hypothesis

A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work: "If _____[I do this] _____, then _____[this]_____ will happen" or it can be written as a statement. Example. If given the choice between wet and dry food, 75% of cats will choose the wet food. Or 75% of all cats tested will prefer wet food over dry food. You must state your hypothesis in a way that can be measured and it should be written in a way to help you answer your original question.

Scientific Method

Ask Question --> Do Background Research --> Construct Hypothesis --> Test With An Experiment --> Analyze Results Draw Conclusion --> If Hypothesis is True --> Report Results. If Hypothesis is False or Partially True --> Think Try Again --> Construct Hypothesis. or --> Report Results.

Ask a Question

Ask a question about something that you observe: How, When, Who, Which, Why, What or Where. (The question must be something that you can measure, preferably a number.)

Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion

Collect your measurements and analyze them to see if your hypothesis is true or false. Scientists often find that their hypothesis was false, and in such cases they may construct a new hypothesis starting the entire process of the scientific method over again. Even if the hypothesis was true, they may want to test it again in a new way.

Communicate Your Results

Communicate your results to others in a final report and/or a display board. Professional scientists communicate by publishing their final report in a scientific journal or by presenting their results on a poster at a scientific meeting.

Test Hypothesis - Do an Experiment

Experiments test if your hypothesis is true or false. It needs to be a fair test. Change only one factor at a time Keep all other conditions the same. Repeat the experiment several times.

Do Background Research

Research your question and get background information. Your question may be answered in your research or you may want to do an experiment on your own. (Use the library and Internet research to help you find the best way to do things and insure that you don't repeat mistakes from the past.)

Independent and dependent variables

The condition that the scientist changes in an experiment is the Independent Variable. Also called the experimental variable. The result of that change is the Dependent Variable.

Your research report will include the following

Title: Author: you Introduction: includes purpose, essential question and background information. Hypothesis Materials: needed for the experiment. Procedure: to be followed for the experiment. Results: Includes qualitative and quantitative. May include charts, graphs, illustrations or photos. Conclusions: Statements that state and explain results. Compare your results with your original question and hypothesis. Discussion: Discuss the results, relating back to your purpose stated in the introduction. Evaluate the experimental procedure and suggest improvements and further experiments. References:

Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment

Your experiment tests whether your hypothesis is true or false. Your experiment needs to be a fair test. In a fair test you change only one factor at a time and keep all other conditions the same. You should repeat your experiments several times to make sure that the first results weren't just an accident.