6.

1.
2.
4.
5.
3.
The Steps of the Scientific
Method
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The series of steps that scientists use to answer
questions and solve problems.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The series of steps that scientists use to answer
questions and solve problems.
Step 1 Ask a Question
Need to be able to answer with an
experiment!
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The series of steps that scientists use to answer
questions and solve problems.
Step 1
Step 2 Form a Hypothesis
Ask a Question
A hypothesis is a
possible explanation
or answer to a
question.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The series of steps that scientists use to answer
questions and solve problems.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Ask a Question
Form a Hypothesis
Test the Hypothesis
(Experiment)
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The series of steps that scientists use to answer
questions and solve problems.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4 Analyze the Results
Measurable Results =
DATA
Ask a Question
Form a Hypothesis
Test the Hypothesis
(Experiment)
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The series of steps that scientists use to answer
questions and solve problems.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5 Draw Conclusions
Ask a Question
Form a Hypothesis
Test the Hypothesis
(Experiment)
Analyze the Results
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The series of steps that scientists use to answer
questions and solve problems.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6 Communicate Results
Show results using
GRAPHS
Ask a Question
Form a Hypothesis
Test the Hypothesis
(Experiment)
Analyze the Results
Draw Conclusions
6. Communicate Results
1. Ask a Question
2. Form a Hypothesis
4. Analyze the Results
5. Draw Conclusions
3. Test the hypothesis (Experiment)
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
The factor or variable that you change ON PURPOSE in an
experiment
Example: When studying the effect of hours of
sunlight on plant growth, you would purposely
change the number of hours of sunlight each plant
receives.
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
The factor or variable that changes in response to a change in the
independent variable
YOU dont control this variable!
Example: In the plant growth experiment, the plants
will grow to different heights based on the number of
hours of sunlight they receive. YOU dont control the
growth of the plant it DEPENDS on the amount of
sunlight they receive!
CONSTANTS
Characteristics in an experiment that stay the same for all trials
Example: In the plant growth experiment, constants
could be: the type and amount of soil, the amount of
water each plant receives, the type of plant thats in
the pot, the same type of pot, the same temperature
room, etc.
CONTROL
The standard to which you compare your results.
Example: In the plant growth experiment, the control
group would be the average number of hours of
sunlight you think most plants receive during an
average day.
INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT
VARIABLE EXAMPLES
Sally studies the effect of hours spent studying on student test
scores
IV: Hours spent studying
DV: Test scores

John conducts an experiment to see how the hours of sunlight a
plant receives affects the number of flowers it produces
IV: Hours of sunlight
DV: Number of flowers the plant produces


INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT
VARIABLE EXAMPLES
Judy designs an experiment to test how the number of times a
student chews a piece of gum affects the size of a bubble
IV: Number of chews
DV: Bubble size

Jackie conducts an experiment to see how the number of jumping
jacks a person does affects their heart rate
IV: Number of jumping jacks
DV: Heart rate


INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT
VARIABLE EXAMPLES
Mary conducts an experiment to see how the rate at which an
ice cube melts is affected by the temperature of the pop it is in.
IV: Temperature of the pop
DV: Rate at which the ice cube melts