The Scientific Methodaka: Scientific Inquiry

What is Science?The goal of science is to investigate and understand the natural world, to explain events in the natural world, and to use those explanations to make useful predictions.

1. Science deals only with the natural world.

2. Scientists: collect and organize information in a careful, orderly way, looking for patterns and connections between events.

3. Scientists propose explanations that can be tested by examining evidence.

4. Science is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.

4. Science is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.

How does the process of scientific investigation work?

Science begins with an observation. This is the

process of gathering information about events or processes in a careful, orderly way.

How does the process of scientific investigation work?

Scientists use a series of procedures called the scientific

method (also referred to as

scientific inquiry).

THE SCIENTIFIC METHODA series of steps

used by scientists to solve a problem or answer a question

(A series of steps used by scientists to solve a problem or answer a question.)

Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Establish the problem (Question)

2. Form a hypothesis

3. Test the hypothesis

4. Classify and analyze the data

5. Choose and verify the answer

(1) Establish the problem

This process often begins with a problem or question about an observation.

Questions come from experiences that you have and from observations and inferences that you make.

Some questions cannot be investigated by science.

Does my dog eat more food than my cat?

Which makes a better pet – a cat or a dog?

(1) Establish the problem

problem: a question that may be answered by the use of the scientific method

The problem must:• fall within the limitations of science• be observable• be measurable• be repeatable

(1) Establish the problem

Establishing the problem involves background research and limiting (defining) the problem.

Background research

reading books and talking to qualified people about the topic or the problem

Limiting the problem

means stating the problem carefully

(2) Form a hypothesis

hypothesis: a possible solution; an educated guess (a prediction that can be tested)

(3) Test the HypothesisA scientist will then gather evidence that will either support or disprove the hypothesis.This is done one of two ways:• by conducting an experiment• by conducting a survey

(3) Test the Hypothesis

This information (evidence) is called data. data: pieces of information; the information gathered from making observations. (facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through observations)

Data must be measured and recorded accurately.

What’s in an Experiment?

Experimental variable Experimental group Control group

You wonder if using miracle grow on a plant really causes it to grow better.

Example Experiment

You would set up a control group and an experimental group to perform the

experiment and gather data.

Example Experiment

Experimental Variable a condition that affects the result of an experiment (also known as independent variable or manipulated variable or experimental factor)

A variable is something in an experiment that can change. Each experiment should have only one variable.

Experimental Groupthe group that is exposed to the

experimental variable

The experimental group shows the effect of the variable that is being tested.

Control Groupthe group, in an experiment, that is not

exposed to the experimental variable

A control is the standard to which the outcome of a test is compared.

The control group serves as the comparison. It is the same as the experiment group, except that the one variable that is being tested is removed.

Surveya set of

observations that are made to

determine what is a common practice in a

particular area

(4) Classify and analyze the data

classify: arranging data so relationships can be seen

Classifyoften involves grouping or sorting the

data (making a chart or table) which makes answers easier to find

Graphs can reveal patterns or trends in data.

(4) Classify and analyze the data

analyzing: determining whether a set of data supports a hypothesis

(5) Choose and Verify the Answer

Once an answer is chosen, it must be verified.

How do you verify and answer?

By gathering additional data through experiments or surveys.

The more data that is found to support the answer, the more likely it is that the answer is valid.

Proving vs Verifying

Proving and verifying are not the same. A scientist can never completely prove an answer.

Why? Because it is based on

observations done by humans who make mistakes.