Scientific Method

Foldable Notes
If you did not finish in Class, these are the notes.
Problem /Question
Ask a Question: The
scientific method starts
when you ask a question
about something that you
observe: How, What,
When, Who, Which, Why,
or Where?
And, in order for the
scientific method to
answer the question it
must be testable and
something that you can
measure, preferably with a
number.

Do research

Do Background Research: Rather
than starting from scratch in putting
together a plan for answering your
question, you want to be a savvy
scientist using 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.
Research your problem using the
internet, books or journals.

Hypothesis
Construct a Hypothesis: A
hypothesis is an educated guess,
testable statement about what
will happen:
"If _____[I do this] _____, then
_____[this]_____." You must
state your hypothesis in a way
that you can easily measure, and
of course, your hypothesis should
be constructed in a way to help
you answer your original
question.
Example: If I place the plant away
from the window, then it will grow
faster.
Experiment
Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment: Your
experiment tests whether your hypothesis is
supported or not. List all materials and describe the
experiment with Step by Step procedures.

You should also repeat your experiments several times
or do several trials to increase accuracy.

Variables
Independent variable The variable that is purposely changed in
the experiment. I am the experimenter, I choose the IV
Whatever you have control of, or whatever has already been set for
you, is the independent variable.
Example: The amount of sunlight a plant receives.
Dependent variable Variable that changes due
to the value of the independent variable. What you measure, the
outcome.
Example: The size of the plant.
Constant/Control Variable- things that do not change, kept the
same.
Example: Soil, type of plant, etc.

Collect and Analyze DATA


Take some time to carefully collect and
review all of the data from your
experiment. Use charts and graphs to
help you analyze the data and patterns.
Did you get the results you had
expected? What did you find out from
your experiment?

Do multiple trials for accuracy!!!
Observation Types
Quantitative observation
based on measurement.
Example: 85 mm long, 12 cars, 342 million
miles, etc.
Qualitative observation not based on numbers or
measurement.
Example: Rock composed of silica and quartz, yello
w star, liquid is composed of hydrogen
and oxygen, etc

Qualitative and
Quantitative Data
and observations
Data/results: Precision vs accuracy
Accuracy is how close a
measured value is to the
actual (true) value.
Precision is how close the
measured values are to each
other.
Conclusion and communicate
Conclusion-Once your
experiment is complete,
you collect your
measurements and analyze
them to see if data supports
your hypothesis or not and
explain that in your
conclusion. Use data and
mathematical language in
your conclusion.
Communicate Your Results: To
complete your experiment, you
will communicate your results to
others in a final report and/or a
display board. In a science fair,
judges are interested in your
findings regardless of whether or
not they support your original
hypothesis.

Helps others learn.

Example: According to my experiments, the Energizer maintained its voltage
(dependent variable) for approximately a 3% longer period of time (independent
variable) than Duracell in a low current drain device. For a medium drain device,
the Energizer maintained its voltage for approximately 10% longer than Duracell.
For a high drain device, the Energizer maintained its voltage for approximately
29% longer than Duracell. Basically, the Energizer performs with increasing
superiority, the higher the current drain of the device. The heavy-duty non-
alkaline batteries do not maintain their voltage as long as either alkaline battery
at any level of current drain.

My hypothesis was that Energizer would last the longest in all of the devices
tested. My results do support my hypothesis.
I think the tests I did went smoothly and I had no problems, except for the fact
that the batteries recover some of their voltage if they are not running in
something. Therefore, I had to take the measurements quickly.
An interesting future study might involve testing the batteries at different
temperatures to simulate actual usage in very cold or very hot conditions.