Scientific Method

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Scientific Method

• How do scientists do science?

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curiosity

• Science starts when you notice something
  interesting
• Brings up questions

My car wont start. Why wont my car start?
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collecting information to learn more

• Data information scientists gather
• Observation using senses to describe
• qualitative data
• Watch animals interact, hear calls
• Measuring using numbers quantitative data
• Organizing data graph, chart, table,
  map

Under the hood everything looks good. Yesterday
my gas gauge was low.
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• Sampling using a small part to represent a
  whole population
• Must be large and random

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forming a hypothesis

• Hypothesis statement that explains
  observations and
• can be tested
• Prediction states the results expected when a
  hypothesis is tested
• If - then

I think it wont start because it is out of
gas. If I put gas in, then it will start.
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experimenting

• Experiment testing a hypothesis by gathering data
  in a controlled way
• Controlled experiment tests difference between
  a control group and experimental group

Ill go to the gas station and get gas in this
jug, put it in my car and try again.
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• One factor is changed in the experimental group
• Independent variable is the factor that I change
• Dependent variable is something we predicted to
  change when the independent variable changed

When I change the amount of gas in the car, its
ability to start may change.
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data and analysis

• Data from controlled experiment is collected
• Analysis
• Organize chart, graph
• Statistics mean, median, average
• Compare to other studies

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conclusions

• Model explains the data
• Theory statement that is thought to be true
• Supported by lots of evidence
• Communicate with other scientists

Based on my experience, the car needs gas to
start.
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• Curiosity brings up questions
• Collect information to learn more
• Form a hypothesis
• Experiment
• Collect data and analyze
• Draw conclusions