SCIENTIFIC METHOD NOTES

Name_____________

Per______Date_____

Make an ObservationObservation involves using all 5 senses to gather information. These senses are:

1. sight2. hearing 3. touch 4. smell 5. taste

You might observe the plant wilting and turning brown.

Observations

Observations

Observations

Making Observations

• Take a moment to observe a pencil and draw your observations in your notebook.

Posing a Question:

• A scientific question is one that can be answered by gathering evidence.

• “I wonder why my tomato plant died?”

Scientific Question or Not?

• Look at the following questions and decide which are testable and which are not.

1. What is the effect of cigarette smoke on lungs?

2. Why is blue the best color in the world?

3. Did the grass turn brown because it needs fertilizer?

4. What is the effect of studying time on test grades?

5. Why is basketball a boring sport?

Scientific Question or Not?

• What is the effect of cigarette smoke on lungs? Yes

• Why is blue the best color in the world? No

• Did the grass turn brown because it needs fertilizer? Yes

• What is the effect of studying time on test grades? Yes

• Why is basketball a boring sport? No

Hypothesis

• A possible explanation that relates to a scientific question.

• Must be testable by observation

• If…..then statement. Example: If I don’t expose my tomato plant to enough sunlight, then it may die because plants use light to create food.

Procedures

• A very detailed list of instructions that can be understood and repeated.

• Use numbers for each step

• Repeat

Variables

• All the factors that can change during an experiment.

• Three main types, controlled variables, manipulated variables and responding variables.

Controlled Variables

• Controlled variables are found in controlled experiments where two or more objects are compared.

• These are the variables that are kept exactly the same in two tests. (Same kind of plants, same amount of soil, same amount of water, etc…)

Manipulated Variable (Independent Variable)

• This is the one variable the scientist changes. (Amount of sunlight.)

Responding Variable

• The variable that is expected to change because of the manipulated variable. (The tomato plant’s growth.)

Data

• The facts, figures and other evidence that you learn through observation are called data.

• Data comes in two forms, qualitative and quantitative data.

Qualitative Data

• Qualitative data is data that describes color, odor or sound. This data does not involve measurement or numbers.

Quantitative Data

• Quantitative Data are measurements made using standard units, such as mass in grams (g) or density in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3)

Collect and record Data

• Use a data table for recording numbers, descriptions, and other observations.

Interpreting Data

• Scientists identify trends or patterns within the collected data to figure out what they mean. (My tomato plant grew taller over a period of days with more sunlight.)

Drawing Conclusions:

• A conclusion states whether the data supported the hypothesis or showed it to be false. (My hypothesis was correct; my tomato plants did need more sunlight to maintain healthy growth.)

Conclusions

• 1.) Answer the investigative question (or

• Describe whether the prediction/hypothesis was correct.)

• 2.) Include supporting data from the data table.

• 3.) Explain how this data supports your conclusion.