Scientific Method

The process to conduct scientific

investigations

Mrs. DeSimone Coelho 2010

What is the Scientific Method?

The Scientific Method is a process used
to find answers to questions about the
world around us
There are several versions
No matter which version is used, all
begin with a testable question and
provide an organized method for
conducting and analyzing an
experiment

So How Many Steps?

There are six steps in our method
This will help you remember:

SIX
GREAT
FARMERS
PLANT
ALL
DAY

What are the Steps?

State the Problem
Great: Gather Information
Farmers: Form Hypothesis
Plant: Perform Experiment
All: Analyze Data
Day: Draw Conclusions

Six:

SIX: State the Problem

What do you want to know or explain?
Your problem must be in the form of a
question and include the independent
variable and dependent variable
Does (the) ________affect
____________?
(independent variable)

(dependent variable)

GREAT: Gather Information

You should research the scientific
concepts associated with the
experiment
For example, if you are testing to
see which paper towel brand is the
most absorbent, you should research
absorbency, paper material, and
quality control testing. This will help
answer the WHY?

GREAT: Gather Information (cont)

DO NOT LOOK FOR THE ANSWER TO YOUR
POSSIBLE SCIENCE PROBLEM, look for:
General background information
Definitions of words related to your topic
Statistics results from other similar
scientific experiments
Examples
Scientists/people related to your chosen
topic

FARMERS: Form Hypothesis

Remember a hypothesis is an
educated guess.
After doing research on your topic
and coming up with a question or
problem to investigate, you now have
the tools to make an educated
guess.

FARMERS: Form Hypothesis (cont)

Your hypothesis should follow the format

If (the) ________, then ____________.

(independent variable) affects the (dependent variable)

DO NOT use words such as best, better,

bigger, smaller
Use words that are measurable

FARMERS: Form Hypothesis (cont)

Great Examples:

If the size of a meteorite affects the

circumference of a crater, then the
larger the meteorite, the larger the
crater.

If the type of liquid affects the growth of

a plant, then orange juice will help the
plant grow tallest.

PLANT: Perform Experiment

To successfully carry out an
experiment, your experimental design
must include the following:
materials list
step-by-step procedure
list of the experimental control;
independent, dependent & controlled
variables
list of safety precautions

Perform Experiment - Materials

Must be in a list form (no sentences)
Must include all equipment and
supplies needed to carry out the
experiment
Remember this list might change
when you actually perform your
experiment. This list is what you
think you may need. It can always be
updated.

Perform Experiment Materials

(cont)

Must include size of items

Must include amount of each item
needed
Example:
9 radish seeds
3 four-inch flower pots
cups of potting soil 25 mL of vinegar
25 mL of tap water
25 mL of orange juice
1 graduated cylinder
1 metric ruler

15

Perform Experiment Procedure

Step-by-step directions
One step at a time
Steps must be very specific
Steps must be numbered
You do not need to say Collect
materials, it is assumed you will do
that.

Perform Experiment Procedure

(cont)

Include what you are measuring

(dependent variable) and how often you
will be measuring
Your experiment must include at least 3
trials

Perform Experiment Procedure

(cont)

DO NOT ever include the statement

RECORD RESULTS. This statement
means nothing.
Rather than say record results write
record height, length, etc
You are recording a measurement,
which are your results
BE SPECIFIC!

Procedure Example
1.

Label 3 four-inch flower pots one vinegar, one orange juice, one
water.

2.

Fill each flower pot with 5 cups of potting soil.

3.

Place 2 radish seeds in each of the pots.

4.

Water the pot labeled vinegar with 10 mL of vinegar.

5.

Water the pot labeled orange juice with 10 mL of orange juice.

6.

Water the pot labeled water with 10 mL of water.

7.

Place the three pots near a window.

8.

Measure the height of the growing radish seeds every other day for 4
weeks.

9.

Use a metric ruler to measure the heights of all the growing seeds.

10. Record all the heights in a table.

11. Also records several observations of the growing radish seeds each
day you measure the plants.
12. Record these observations in a separate table.

Perform Experiment Control &

Variables
Experimental Control the part of the
experiment that is used as the normal
or comparison so that you can
compare it to the independent variable
Examples include a plant by the
window or a plant watered with water

Perform Experiment Control &

Variables (cont)
Independent Variable the part of the
experiment you are changing or testing
Ex: types of liquid or number of seeds

Dependent Variable the part of the

experiment that your are measuring
Ex: plant height (mm) or leaf length
(mm)

Perform Experiment Control &

Variables (cont)
Controlled variables parts of the
experiment that never change, such
as:
same number of seeds
same amount and type of soil
same size pot
same amount of sunlight, etc.

S.U.N.S.E.T.

Size
Unique qualities
Number of parts
Shape
Exact colors
Texture

ALL: Analyze Data

Your results should include three
parts:
A table of data (numbers)
A graph of averages or final results
A paragraph of detailed qualitative
observations taken during the
experiment

Analyze Data Data Table

Includes title
Organized information with labeled
columns and rows
Proper units included with measurement
Must include results of ALL trials

Data Table Example

Number of Chocolate Chips in Different Brands of Cookies
Brand

# Chips

# Chips

# Chips

# Chips

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial AVG

Chips Ahoy!

28

30

32

30

Original
Chips Ahoy!

34

30

22

28.6

Chewy
Chips

32

38

40

36.6

Deluxe

Analyze Data Graph

Include title
Include labels for both axes with
proper metric units
Include correct scale for axes
Include a key or legend if needed

Analyze Data Graph

(cont)

Choose correct type of graph for your final

results
Bar graph used for comparison
Line graph used to show change over time
Pie or circle graph used to show parts of
a whole (percentage)

Analyze Data Graph

(cont)

measurement units

dependent
variable

Problem: Does the INDEPENDENT

VARIABLE affect the DEPENDENT
Y-axis
VARIABLE?

independent variable
measurement units

X-axis

Analyze Data - Paragraph of

detailed qualitative observations
One to two paragraphs of what you saw,
heard, felt, or smelled during the
experiment
Notes of your observations should be
written down as you are performing your
experiment

Analyze Data Paragraph

(cont)

After the experiment, write up your

notes into a paragraph or two.
NO OPINIONS only what happened
during the experiment, about the
experiment.
NO CONCLUSION statements nothing
about your quantitative observations

DAY: Draw Conclusions

All of the following must be used to
create a complete conclusion:
Restatement of your problem
Restatement of your hypothesis
General statement of the final
average results of your trials. DO
NOT restate the results of each and
every trial. That information is
already in your data table. Averages
are a good summary.

DAY: Draw Conclusions

(cont)

General patterns or trends found in

your analysis of results.
A sentence which states if your
hypothesis was accepted (correct)
or rejected (wrong).
Answer to the problem.

DAY: Draw Conclusions

(cont)

A list of factors that may have

affected the results of your project.
A general statement of what the
experiment taught you and how
what you learned can be connected
to the real world or your life.

Conclusion Example
For my experiment, I wanted to find out if different kinds of household
liquids would affect the growth of radish seeds. I thought that if radish seeds
were grown in vinegar, they would grow taller than seeds grown in water or
orange juice. According to my results, radishes watered with vinegar grew to
an average height of 15.6 cm, radishes watered with water grew to an average
height of 23.4 cm, and radishes watered with orange juice grew to an average
height of 10.1 cm. Therefore, my hypothesis was rejected. Vinegar did not help
the radish seeds grow taller. In conclusion, radish seeds grown in water grew
the tallest, while radish seeds grown in orange juice grew the shortest. Several
factors may have affected the results of my experiment. During the experiment,
one of the seeds watered in vinegar died after 3 days, leaving only one plant for
vinegar. In addition, after 7 days, the radishes in orange juice grew blue mold
and it did not smell very good. From this experiment, I learned that if I want to
grow large, healthy radishes, I should water the seeds with water, not vinegar
or orange juice.

Scientific Method

Any
Questions?

References

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/proje
ct_data_analysis.shtml
Ms. Sue Fortin, Science teacher Coelho Middle School