Scientific Method

HYPOTHESIS is:

An educated guess. A testable prediction, often implied by a theory. An assumption based on theory.

DATA

In an experiment any pieces of information that is collected regarding the Dependent Variable. Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.

EXPERIMENTAL GROUP

In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

The procedure scientist use to answer a question or solve a problem is known as the:

Scientific Method

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

The experimental FACTOR that IS MANIPULATED. The variable whose EFFECT is being studied.

DEPENDENT VARIABLE

The experimental FACTOR that is BEING MEASURED. The variable that MAY CHANGE in response to manipulations of the Independent Variable

The steps involved in carrying out the Scientific Method include:

(a) Identify a PROBLEM or ask a QUESTION. (b) stating a HYPOTHESIS. (c) TEST the HYPOTHESIS by designing and EXPERIMENT. (d) COLLECT and RECORD data (e) ANALYSE your results (f) coming to a CONCLUSION as to whether your HYPOTHESIS is SUPPORTED/ACCEPTED or REJECTED

Step E of the scientific method

*Analyse your results (Using sample data, perform computations called for in the analysis plan)

Step D of the scientific method:

*Conduct the experiment and collect the data. ( In this step you will be measuring the DEPENDENT VARIABLE is the thing being observed and measured, (do not confuse this with the Independent Variable). Any pieces of information that is collected regarding the Dependent Variable is called the DATA. Collect the data in an organized data table, and use the data to create a graph.)

Step C of the scientific method:

*Design an experiment to test the hypothesis. (design an experiment whose result is to prove or disprove your hypothesis. It is important to say your hypothesis is Supported or Accepted instead or Proven; as there may be other factors that may influence the result that you may not have tested. Their should be two groups in your experiment: 1st Group- The Experimental Group: is the group that has the factor being tested the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE. It is easy to identify the independent variable since it is stated in the hypothesis 2nd Group - The Control Group: is identical to the experimental group in every way, except they lack the independent variable.)

Step B of the scientific method:

*Development of a hypothesis. ( The hypothesis is not a random guess of the problem. instead it is an Educated guess. It involves researching the problem and finding out what other people have learned and using that information to help devise and answer. An important part of the hypothesis is that it should answer the original question, and it should be testable.)

Step F of the scientific method:

*Draw Conclusions from your data. ( this step it states directly whether the hypothesis was supported/accepted or rejected/dis-proven. The more an experiment is repeated the more valid the results are. A hypothesis who is supported by many experiments and a lot of data is called a THEORY.

Step A of the scientific method:

*Identify the problem or question. ( in the step you the researcher must must decide what it is you will be studying. it is a very important step that identifies exactly what it is you wish to learn and it allows you to focus only on that material )

CONTROL GROUP

In an experiment, the group that serves as a CONSTANT. It is not exposed to the treatment (Independent Variable). It is Compared with the Experimental Group and serves as a base for evaluating the effect of the treatment (Independent Variable).

CONSTANT

in an experiment is a value that does not change, and stays the same in both groups