Chapter 1 The Scientific Method The Scientific Method

Chapter 1 The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method involves the following steps: 1. Making observations 2. Formulating a hypothesis 3. Designing a controlled experiment 4. Collecting and interpreting data 5. Forming a conclusion 6. Comparing the conclusion with existing knowledge 7. Reporting and publishing the results 8. Developing theories and principles • 2

Scientific Method

The Edward Jenner Story

e. g. Edward Jenner’s investigation Jenner noticed that people who caught Cowpox (a minor disease) did not seem to get Smallpox (a fatal disease). Jenner hypothesised that if someone got cowpox and recovered then they would not get smallpox. The Scientific method 1. The Scientist makes an Observation 2. A hypothesis is formed. (A hypothesis is an educated guess based on the initial observation).

3. An experiment is Jenner injected a boy with designed to test the cowpox and later injected hypothesis. him with smallpox. 4. Interpretation of results. Jenner tested the boy for smallpox and found that he did not have it. 5. Conclusion Jenner concluded that a person who once had cowpox would not get smallpox.

• Based on the results of an experiment a hypothesis can be supported, rejected or changed and retested. • Details of the experiment and the results can be published in a Journal to inform the scientific community and allow further research. • If a hypothesis is continually supported by many experiments it becomes known as a theory. • When a theory has been shown to be correct under all conditions then it becomes known as a Law or Principle.

1. Observation You observe something using your senses or machines which are basically extensions of those senses. • 8

Question • You ask a question about what you observed. • Form a question about a specific event or reaction. • State it as a problem or question: How does human activity affect global warming? Why are honeybee populations suddenly declining? What enables birds to migrate such long distances? • 9

2. Form a Hypothesis: is an educated guess based on observations. You predict what you think the answer to your question might be. • 10

3. Design an Experiment Design controlled experiments, a series of steps, to test the hypothesis, to see if it is correct or not. • 11

4. Collect & Analyse Data Collect information, measurements and observations from experiements. • 12

5. Draw Conclusions Determine from the data collected if the hypothesis was correct or incorrect • 13

6. Compare You compare your conclusion with existing knowledge, to see if it supports or rejects existing knowledge. • 14

7. Report and Publish results Details of the experiment and the results can be published in a Journal to inform the scientific community and allow further research. • 15

8. Develop a theory or principle • If a hypothesis is continually supported by many experiments it becomes known as a theory. • When a theory has been shown to be correct under all conditions then it becomes known as a Law or Principle. • 16

• Scientific Theory - a general statement of why things work based on hypotheses that have been tested many times • Scientific Law - a statement of what happens in a certain event based on verified observations & experiments

What are the main steps in the Scientific Method? 1. Observation 2. Hypothesis 3. Experiment 4. Result 5. Conclusion

Steps in the scientific method • • • Observation Question Hypothesis Test/Experiment Results Conclusions • 20

• The Scientific Method Quiz An excel quiz on the steps involved

• The Scientific Method