The Scientific Method and Lab Safety What is

The Scientific Method and Lab Safety…

What is the Scientific Method? The scientific method is a systematic body of techniques used to investigate phenomena and gain new knowledge (ask and answer scientific questions) by making observations and doing experiments.

Steps of the Scientific Method Include: 1. Ask a Question and Research it. 2. Develop a Hypothesis. 3. Design an Experiment. 4. Collect and Interpret Data 5. Draw a Conclusion. 6. Communicate your Results.

Step 1: Ask a QUESTION… • A question is usually based on an observation. • Scientific questions start with: how, what, when, who, which, why, or where? • Example: Will a plant grow faster with sunlight or without sunlight? • You must also do background research once you pose a scientific question before forming a hypothesis. • Research will help you form a more educated guess.

Step 2: Develop a HYPOTHESIS • A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work or a possible explanation or answer to a scientific question. • It is always an “if; then” statement. • Example: “IF I keep the flower in sunlight, THEN it will grow faster. • A hypothesis must be testable meaning you must be able to investigate or experiment to gather evidence that will either prove or disprove the hypothesis.

Step 2: Develop a HYPOTHESIS (cont. ) • The hypothesis should help answer the original question. • It should be stated in a way that will make it easily measurable.

Step 3: Design an EXPERIMENT • The experiment tests whether or not the hypothesis is true or false. • Experiments must be a fair test. • A fair test is done by only changing one variable at a time. • An experiment must be repeated several times before the hypothesis is accepted as true. • A controlled experiment is an experiment in which only one variable is changed at a time. • A controlled variable (aka constant) is something that stays the same in an experiment.

Step 3: Design an EXPERIMENT (cont. ) Independent Variables • Variable that is changed by the scientist (you). • There should only ever be one independent variable at a time. Example: the amount of light the plant gets to test the growth. One will get light and the other will be in darkness. Dependent Variables • Variable that is changed as a result of the independent variable. • This is what we focus our attention on to record our results. Example: the measured growth of the plants.

Step 4: Collect and Interpret Data • Data are the facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through observations. • Data Tables are an organized way to collect and record observations. • Data must be interpreted once it has been collected and recorded. • Graphs help to interpret data.

Step 5: Draw Conclusions • A conclusion is a summary of what you have learned from an experiment. • When drawing conclusions, ask does the data support the hypothesis. • If the hypothesis is false, you must start the scientific process over again with a new hypothesis. • If the hypothesis is true, retest the same experiment to confirm it is true.

Step 6: Communicate Your Results Communicating is the sharing of ideas and experimental data with others through writing and speaking. This is done so other scientist can repeat their experiment.