Molded together from two powerpoints on the internet: www.biologyjunction.com/Scientific%20Method.ppt and newton.uor.edu/facultyfolder/tyler_nordgren/.../FYS_SciMethod.ppt

1. Scientific Method

2. Steps in the Scientific
Method

3. Steps in the Scientific
Method
 Observation

4. Steps in the Scientific
Method
 Observation
 Hypothesis

5. Steps in the Scientific
Method
 Observation
 Hypothesis
 Experiment/Test

6. Steps in the Scientific
Method
 Observation
 Hypothesis
 Experiment/Test
 Data Collection

7. Steps in the Scientific
Method
 Observation
 Hypothesis
 Experiment/Test
 Data Collection
 Conclusion

8. Steps in the Scientific
Method
 Observation
 Hypothesis
 Experiment/Test
 Data Collection
 Conclusion
 Retest

9. The Scientific Method

10. The Scientific Method
 Observe an event.

11. The Scientific Method
 Observe an event.
 Develop a model (or hypothesis) which
makes a prediction.

12. The Scientific Method
 Observe an event.
 Develop a model (or hypothesis) which
makes a prediction.
 Test the prediction.

13. The Scientific Method
 Observe an event.
 Develop a model (or hypothesis) which
makes a prediction.
 Test the prediction.
 Observe the result.

14. The Scientific Method
 Observe an event.
 Develop a model (or hypothesis) which
makes a prediction.
 Test the prediction.
 Observe the result.
 Revise the hypothesis.

15. The Scientific Method
 Observe an event.
 Develop a model (or hypothesis) which
makes a prediction.
 Test the prediction.
 Observe the result.
 Revise the hypothesis.
 Repeat as needed.

16. The Scientific Method
 Observe an event.
 Develop a model (or hypothesis) which
makes a prediction.
 Test the prediction.
 Observe the result.
 Revise the hypothesis.
 Repeat as needed.
 A successful hypothesis becomes a Scientific
Theory.

17. The Scientific Method
 Observe an event.
 Develop a model (or hypothesis) which
makes a prediction.
model
 Test the prediction.
 Observe the result.
 Revise the hypothesis. test
 Repeat as needed.
 A successful hypothesis becomes a Scientific
Theory.

18. Medical Science
Scientific Method High Cholesterol
Observation Patient has high cholesterol
Hypothesis Certain chemicals may dissolve
(prediction) cholesterol deposits.
Test Give 100 patients these chemicals,
give 100 patients placebo.
Observe result Same number lower their
cholesterol as placebo patients.
Revise hypothesis? Try different combo of chemicals.
New test? Re-run medical test. Observe
results.
Scientific Theory Lipitor reduces cholesterol.
4

19. Everyday Science
Scientific Method Car Repair
Observation Engine won’t turn over.
Hypothesis (prediction) Predict battery is dead.
Test Replace battery.
Observe result Engine now turns over.
Revise hypothesis? Not needed.
New test? Not needed.
Scientific Theory Cars won’t work without a
fully charged battery.
5

20. Everyday Science
Scientific Method Making Spaghetti Sauce
Observation Spaghetti sauce should be red.
Hypothesis (prediction) Try a tomato sauce.
Test Heat pot of tomato sauce.
Observe result Taste the sauce - bland.
Revise hypothesis? Use tomato sauce and garlic!
New test? Add garlic, taste - not so bland.
Scientific Theory The Final Recipe.
6

21. Observations
 Gathered
through your
senses
 A scientist
notices
something in
their natural
world

22. Observations
 An example of an
observation might
be noticing that
many salamanders
near a pond have
curved, not
straight, tails

23. Hypothesis

24. Hypothesis

25. Hypothesis
 A suggested
solution to the
problem.

26. Hypothesis
 A suggested
solution to the
problem.
 Must be testable

27. Hypothesis
 A suggested
solution to the
problem.
 Must be testable
 Sometimes written
as If…Then…
statements

28. Hypothesis
 A suggested
solution to the
problem.
 Must be testable
 Sometimes written
as If…Then…
statements
 Predicts an
outcome

29. Hypothesis
 An example of a
hypothesis might
be that the
salamanders have
curved tails due to
a pollutant in the
moist soil where
they live.

30. Experiment
 A procedure
to test the
hypothesis.

31. Experiment
Variable –
factor in the
experiment
that is being
tested

32. Experiment
A good or
“valid”
experiment
will only have
ONE
variable!

33. Controls and Variables

34. Scientific Experiments Follow
Rules
 An
experimenter
changes one
factor and
observes or
measures what
happens.

35. The Control Variable

36. The Control Variable
 The experimenter makes a
special effort to keep other
factors constant so that they
will not effect the outcome.

37. The Control Variable
 The experimenter makes a
special effort to keep other
factors constant so that they
will not effect the outcome.
 Those factors are called
control variables.

38. What is the Purpose of a
Control?

39. What is the Purpose of a
Control?
 Controls are NOT being
tested

40. What is the Purpose of a
Control?
 Controls are NOT being
tested
 Controls are used for
COMPARISON

41. Other Variables

42. Other Variables
 The factor that is changed is
known as the independent
variable.

43. Other Variables
 The factor that is changed is
known as the independent
variable.
 The factor that is measured or
observed is called the dependent
variable.

44. Example of Controls &
Variables

45. Example of Controls &
Variables
 For example, suppose you want to figure out
the fastest route to walk home from school.

46. Example of Controls &
Variables
 For example, suppose you want to figure out
the fastest route to walk home from school.
 You will try several different routes and
time how long it takes you to get home by
each one.

47. Example of Controls &
Variables
 For example, suppose you want to figure out
the fastest route to walk home from school.
 You will try several different routes and
time how long it takes you to get home by
each one.
 Since you are only interested in finding a
route that is fastest for you, you will do the
walking yourself.

48. What are the Variables in
Your Experiment?

49. What are the Variables in
Your Experiment?
 Varying the route is the
independent variable

50. What are the Variables in
Your Experiment?
 Varying the route is the
independent variable
 The time it takes is the
dependent variable

51. What are the Variables in
Your Experiment?
 Varying the route is the
independent variable
 The time it takes is the
dependent variable
 Keeping the same walker
throughout makes the walker a
control variable.

52. One more thing… it is best
to make several trials with
each independent variable.

53. Valid Experiments

54. Remember: To be a Valid
Experiment:
 Two groups are required ---
the control & experimental
groups
 There should be only one
variable

55. Data

56. Data
 Results of the
experiment

57. Data
 Results of the
experiment
 May be
quantitative
(numbers) or
qualitative

58. Data

59. Data
 Must be
organized

60. Data
 Must be
organized
 Can be
organized into
charts,
tables, or
graphs

61. Conclusion
 The answer to
the hypothesis
based on the
data obtained
from the
experiment

62. Retest
In order to
verify the
results,
experiments
must be
retested.

63. Review

64. Solving a Problem

65. Solving a Problem
1)Identify a Problem

66. Solving a Problem
1)Identify a Problem
2) State Observations about the
problem

67. Solving a Problem
1)Identify a Problem
2) State Observations about the
problem
3) Form a Hypothesis about the
problem (if…then…)

68. Solving a Problem
1)Identify a Problem
2) State Observations about the
problem
3) Form a Hypothesis about the
problem (if…then…)
4) Design an Experiment to test
the hypothesis

69. Solving a Problem
1)Identify a Problem
2) State Observations about the
problem
3) Form a Hypothesis about the
problem (if…then…)
4) Design an Experiment to test
the hypothesis
5) Collect Data

70. Solving a Problem
1)Identify a Problem
2) State Observations about the
problem
3) Form a Hypothesis about the
problem (if…then…)
4) Design an Experiment to test
the hypothesis
5) Collect Data
6) Form a Conclusion

71. Solving a Problem
1)Identify a Problem
2) State Observations about the
problem
3) Form a Hypothesis about the
problem (if…then…)
4) Design an Experiment to test
the hypothesis
5) Collect Data
6) Form a Conclusion
7) Retest