Scientific

Method
The Scientific Method
involves a series of
steps that are used to
investigate a natural
occurrence.
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
A systematic way of solving
problems
A set of techniques and
processes used to investigate
an event and acquire new
knowledge
It is based on evidences that
can be observed,
experimented and measured
We shall take a closer
look at these steps and
the terminology you will
need to understand
before you start a
science project.
 Problem/Question
 Gather Information
 Formulate a Hypothesis
 Experiment
 Collect, Analyze and interpret the
Results / Data
 Conclusion
 Communicate the Results
 Steps in Scientific Method
1. Problem/Question:
Problem/Question Ask a
questions or Statement of the
Problem

Problem is a question or
statement of puzzlement or
difficulty requiring serious
study to arrive at a solution
 Steps in Scientific Method
1. Problem/Question:
Mandy wants to design an experiment about how much watering
a plant affects plant growth.
 How does ________ affect ______?
 What is the effect of _______ in ______?
Note : Question / Problem must be TESTABLE.

How does the amount of water affect the

growth of been seed?
Steps in Scientific Method
2. Gather Information:
Information Make a
research about the problem
Ways of Gathering information
• Draw from experiences
• Interview resource person
• Read books
• Access information from the
internet
 Steps in Scientific Method
3. Formulate a Hypothesis:
Hypothesis
Hypothesis
 A possible answer to a problem
 An educated guess
 A tentative explanation for an
observation, phenomenon, or
scientific problem that can be
tested by further investigation
 Steps in Scientific Method
3. Formulate a Hypothesis:
Hypothesis Predicts
an outcome of the experiment
“If …….. then…..” Statement

Cause – Effect Pattern

If ….. ( Independent Variable ) then
(Dependent Variable)
 Steps in Scientific Method

3. Formulate a Hypothesis:
Hypothesis Predict
a possible answer to the problem
or question.
Example:
If I water my plants to little, then they will
not grow very much.
Steps in Scientific Method
4. Experiment:
Experiment Is a plan of action
designed to test the hypothesis.
• It is used to test the validity of the
experiment
• Include a detailed materials list.
• The outcome must be measurable
(quantifiable).
Steps in Scientific Method
4. Experiment:
Experiment Includes variables
Variables – are factors to be
tested
Kinds of Variables :
1. Independent / manipulated
Variable
2. Dependent / Responding Variable
3. Controlled Variable
Experimentation
Kinds of Variables :
1. Independent /
manipulated Variable
 Is the factor that the
experimenter manipulates
or changes
2. Dependent / Responding Variable
 is that factor that is
altered as a result of
changes in the
independent variable
Experimentation

Kinds of Variables :
3. Controlled Variable
 Is the factor that are
uniform throughout
the experiment
 Experimentation
Types of Variables
QUESTION How does the amount of water affect the
: growth of been seed?

Controlled Dependent Dependent

Variables Variables Variables
“What I keep the SAME” “What I CHANGE” “What I observe”

•Pot Size •Amount of •The Growth of

• Type of Soil Water the plant / Been
• Type of Plants Seed
• Temperature
 Control Group

The control group is exposed to

the same conditions as the
experimental group, except for
the variable being tested.
All experiments should have a
control group.
 Steps in Scientific Method
5. Collect , Analyze and
Interpret the Results / Data:
Data
Modify the procedure if
needed.
• Confirm the results by
retesting.
• Include tables, graphs, and
photographs.
 Steps in Scientific Method
6. Conclusion:
Conclusion Include a
statement that accepts or
rejects the hypothesis.

• Make recommendations for

further study and possible
improvements to the
procedure.
 Steps in Scientific Method
7.Communicate the Results:
Results Be
prepared to present the project to
an audience.
• The researcher could publish his
study
• Expect questions from the
audience.
Let’s put our
knowledge of the
Scientific Method to
a realistic example
that includes some
of the terms you’ll
be needing to use
and understand.
Problem/Question
John watches his
grandmother bake
bread. He ask his
grandmother what
makes the bread rise.
She explains that yeast
releases a gas as it
feeds on sugar.
Problem/Question

John wonders if the

amount of sugar used in
the recipe will affect the
size of the bread loaf?
 Note!
Be careful how you use effect and
affect.
Effect is usually a noun and affect, a
verb.
“ The effect of sugar amounts on the
rising of bread.”
“How does sugar affect the rising of
bread?”
Gather Information /Research
John researches the areas of
baking and fermentation
and tries to come up with a
way to test his question.
He keeps all of his
information on this topic in
a journal.
 Formulate a Hypothesis
After talking with his
teacher and conducting
further research, he
comes up with a
hypothesis.
“If more sugar is added,
then the bread will rise
higher.”
John talks with his teacher
and she gives him an
Experimental Design
Diagram to help him set
up his investigation.
 Experimentation
Types of Variables
QUESTION How does the amount of sugar affect the
: rising of bread?”

Controlled Independent Dependent

Variables Variables /MV Variables /RV
“What I keep the SAME” “What I CHANGE” “What I observe”

• Oven /pan Used

•Oven Temperature •Amount of • In this case, it
•Brand of ingredients sugar would be the size
•Cooking Time
•60 g of the loaf of
•Temp. & Humidity
•Amount of Yeast •70 g bread.
•Other ing. Used to the
recipe
 Trials
Trials refer to replicate
groups that are
exposed to the same
conditions in an
experiment.
John is going to test each
sugar variable 3 times.
Collect , Analyze and Interpret the Results /
Data:
Data

John comes up with a table

he can use to record his
data.
John gets all his materials
together and carries out
his experiment.
Collect , Analyze and Interpret the Results /
Data:
Data
John examines his data
and notices that his
control worked the best
in this experiment, but
not significantly better
than 70g. of sugar.
 Size of Baked Bread (LxWxH) cm3

Size of Bread Loaf (cm3)

Trials
Amt. of Average
1 2 3
Sugar (g.) Size (cm3)

50 1296 1440 1296 1344

Control group

60 1404 1296 1440 1380

70 1638 1638 1560 1612

Conclusion
John finds that 70g. of sugar
produces the largest loaf.
His hypothesis is accepted.

Communicate the
Results
John tells his grandmother
about his findings and
prepares to present his
project in Science class.
 Identifying Variables

• Read and understand the situation

carefully. Classify the following
variables as
a. Controlled Variables
b. Independent/Manipulated Variables
c. Dependent / Responding Variables
 Identifying Variables
For fun Rico travelled from his house to the school taking the
same path in different ways; running, using a bicycle, and
riding on a scooter. He recorded how long will it took him to
reach the gate of the school. It was 10 minutes when
running, 5 minutes when biking, and 7 minutes when riding
on a scooter.

1. Time of Travel - ___________________________

2. The person, Rico - __________________________
3. Means or Way of Transportation - _____________
4. Road / Path to the School - __________________