Scientific Method

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Overview: QPOE2

The

scientific
method is not
always an
ordered,
sequential
process.

Question

The main idea of the investigation, worded as a

question.

The question must be doable/testable.

Is

it ethical?

Are
Is

there enough time?

Can
Is

the materials available?

observations/data be collected?

there a dependent and independent variable?

Knowledge Probe

Identify and activate

prior knowledge on the
subject that will help to
make a prediction and
plan the investigation.

Also may include

instruction on the
subject in order to make
a prediction and plan the
investigation.

Prediction (Hypothesis)

The expected outcome of the investigation, based on prior

knowledge.

A hypothesis is a type of prediction that includes the relationship

between the independent and dependent variables.

Format:

Prediction:

If _________________________ then ____________________________.

Reasoning:

Uses prior knowledge to explain why you are making this prediction.

Investigation Plan
The

steps used to
conduct the
investigation.

Must

include three
parts:
Variables
Materials

List

Procedure

Investigation Plan: Variables

The variables section of the investigation plan will include the

independent variable, dependent variables and variables to be
controlled (constants).

Independent Variable
This

is the variable the scientist changes

Dependent Variable
This

is the variable the scientist observes (the data that is

collected)

Controlled Variables
All

variables except for the independent variable should be

kept constant.

Variables Examples

Paper airplane investigation

Fertilizer Investigation

Independent Variable:
Type of paper

Independent Variable: Brand or

type of fertilizer

Dependent Variable:
Flight time

Dependent Variable: Height of

plant

Controlled Variables:
Size of paper, paper
airplane design, force at
which it is thrown, height
at which it is thrown,
timer, wind speed, size of
testing area, etc.

Controlled Variables: Type of soil,

amount of soil, type of pot, size of
pot, type of plant, number of seeds,
seed depth when planted,
temperature, sunlight, wind speed,
amount of water, type of water, time
in between watering, amount of
fertilizer added, time in between
fertilizing, etc.

Investigation Plan: Materials and

Procedure

Materials List: Tells the tools

and materials to be used.
Procedure: A numbered list of
steps used to conduct the
investigation.

Procedure Notes:

Should be a fair test that is

designed to answer the question.

Needs to be complete, detailed,

logical and concise.

May include drawings or diagrams.

Explains what data to gather, how

to collect it and how many trials to
conduct.

Includes description of what

variables should be kept constant
and how.

Tells how to reduce possible

sources of error.

Observation
The process of gathering information from the
investigation in an organized manner.

Qualitative Observations:
Information gathered by using
the five senses.

Examples: color, shape, texture,

odor

May be recorded by using words,

sketches, drawings, video,
photographs and audio.

Quantitative Observations:
Information gathered that can be
measured and recorded as a
number.

Examples: number of leaves,

change in mass, temperature,
height, etc.

Should be recorded in a data

table.

Must be labeled with units

Data Analysis

The process of making

sense of the data
collected.

Summarize and interpret

qualitative observations.

Statistical analysis of
quantitative data (mean,
median, mode, range).

Construct appropriate
graphs and charts.

Explanation

Claim: The researchers answer to the question investigated.

Evidence: Scientific data selected to support the claim.

Reasoning: The argument used to determine why the selected

data should count as evidence. A strong argument should
include scientific concepts, principles or theories and well as
reasons why the investigation was a fair test.

Evaluation

The evaluation is where the

researcher assesses the quality
of the investigation.

The evaluation should answer the

following questions:

What are the sources of error?

What would you do differently next time?

How confident are you in your results?

What could be alternative explanations for

my results?

What surprised you?

What would your prediction be if you

conducted this investigation again?

What question would you like to ask next?

Application

Through the application process,

scientists practice the skills of
refining, extending and
demonstrating their knowledge.

How do you use what you have

learned?

Possibilities:

Generate and test a related

question

Design and construct a model

Present results to others