Experimental design –

(The Scientific Method)

With a little Metric System review
and Graphing Strategies thrown in
too…
 Warm-up Questions
1. What is Experimental Design (the ‘Scientific Method’) and
what is it used to accomplish?
2. What system is used to take measurements in all science
classes?
3. What is the Base unit used to measure:
• Length
• Mass
• Volume
4. Name 3 prefixes used in this measurement system and
what the number associated with each.
5. What Type of graph compares the relationship of two
numbers - a line, bar or pie chart graph?
6. What type of graph compares the relationship of a
number to a word - a line, bar or pie chart graph?
 And the answers are…
1. The Scientific Method is a logical, consistent
process for stating and solving problems in the
natural world.
2. The METRIC SYSTEM
3. Length = meter (m), Mass = gram (g), volume = liter
(l)
4. Kilo=1000 (103)
Hecto=100 (102)
Deka=10 (101)
deci=1/10 (10-1)
centi=1/100 (10-2)
milli=1/1000 (10-3)
5. Line Graph
6. Bar Graph
 Warm-up Questions
1. Can you list 3 components or rules for
writing a great scientific procedure?
2. If you wanted to know how high a
superball would bounce if dropped at
different heights, list one variable being
tested.
3. List one variable you would hold constant
in the superball experiment.
 Warm-up Questions
1.What are 3 important parts or components of a
graph?
2.Which axis is the dependent variable?
3.Which axis is the independent variable?
4.What happens if your hypothesis is incorrect?
Warm-up Questions
Vitamin C Lab!!!
Warm-up Questions
 What is Experimental design -
the Scientific Method?
• Experimental
Design is a
logical,
consistent
process for
stating and
solving problems
in the natural
world.
What are the steps to follow?
Generally-
1. Observe
2. Formulate a Question…Problem
Statement
3. Research or Infer to formulate a
Hypothesis
4. Design a Procedure to test this
hypothesis
5. Experiment and record data
6. Analyze the Results
7. Draw a Conclusion and communicate
the results
 The Observation starts it all…
An observation is a
visible or provable fact
or occurrence
VS.
An inference is, “the act of
reasoning from factual
knowledge or evidence.”
This is your opinion drawn
on the observations you
have made.
• Careful observations lead to questions
that arise…
• A Problem Statement is a question that
compares two variables.
– Example: Does the change in the length
of daylight affect the leaf color of
deciduous trees?
 What are Variables?
A Variable is anything that changes.
The variables
compared in the
problem statement are
the INDEPENDENT &
DEPENDENT
variables….
*Remember, the
dependent variable
DEPENDS on the
independent variable!!!
 Variables
Independent variable

•A variable WE MANIPULATE, or change,

in the experiment.

VS.
Dependent variable

•The Variable that changes as a result of

the independent variable.
•The variable that is measured and
recorded.
 What is the difference between a
constant and a control?
• A constant is a variable that does not
change through the entire experiment…a
value that remains the same.

VS.
• The CONTROL is the group or condition
that is used as the basis for comparison
for the results of the changes in the
independent variable
 What is a Controlled
Experiment ?

• A Controlled Experiment means that only

ONE independent Variable is being tested
at a time!!!
• This allows the scientists to evaluate the
results of the one thing being tested!!!
Hypothesis Statement
• A hypothesis is the stated outcome
predicted to the problem statement
that will be evaluated by the
experiment…
• This is your expected results or your
“educated guess” to the problem at
hand.
Example: If a superball is dropped from increasing
heights, then the bounce height will also increase
because....
 Formatting your Hypothesis
1. If blah blah blah, then blah blah blah because…

OR

2. As a statement (3rd person always!!!)

Example: The bounce height of the superball will

increase in direct proportion (this means the
graph of the results will be a straight line with a
constant slope) with the increase in drop height.
 Writing a great PROCEDURE!
1. Written in outline or list form
(step #1 is NEVER ‘Gather all
materials’!!!)
2. This should always be written
in the third person…no
personal pronouns!
3. IT MUST BE REPEATABLE!
A Clear, Concise List of each
step to follow…this includes
tools used, measurements
taken, location, etc…anything
necessary to exactly
replicate your procedure.
4. This should include directions
to follow for making and
taking observations over time!
 Collecting DATA
QUANTITATIVE
• This is a NUMBER or
“quantity” – an
QUALITATIVE objective measure or
• This is a WORD or “quality” observation…
– a subjective measure Examples: Distance, mass,
other than an number… volume, density
Examples: An odor, color,
texture, taste, etc.
DATA TABLES
1. TITLE that identifies both the IV and DV

2. X Axis – Independent Variable

3. Y Axis – Dependent Variable

4. Calculations are
generally to the
right columns -
after stated data
Ahh, to GRAPH or not to GRAPH
• Graphs help to communicate and
visualize quantitative (numeric) data.
• The most common forms we will use
include:
1. LINE GRAPH
2. BAR GRAPH
3. PIE CHART (rare)
 All Graphs will include:
1. TITLE: The Effect of the (IV) on the (DV)...notice that all
words in the title are capitalized except for prepositions.

2. Y-Axis = 4. KEY for

DEPENDENT data series
variable that
will include:
•Labels
•Unit Measures 3. X-Axis = INDEPENDENT
•Appropriate variable that will include:
scale to fit the •Labels
data •Unit Measures
•Consistent •Appropriate scale to fit the data
increments •Consistent increments
 This compares a
number to a number!
This compares a
number to a
WORD!
This displays
percentages or
parts of a whole!
 And the
CONCLUSION!
The concluding paragraph (5-8 sentences)
should include the following:
1. Restate the problem statement.
2. Restate the hypothesis.
3. Accept or reject the hypothesis using the analysis of your data.
Be specific, proving your point with specific data points and
trends.
4. Include a discussion of the validity of your results.
5. How might this experiment be improved or modified to further
test the problem statement.
6. Summarize or restate you conclusion to finish up!

***This must be written in the third person!***

 Communication- Sharing of information is
essential to scientific process

Theory Scientific Law

•Supported by •A Statement of fact
considerable evidence- that concisely explains
never yet disproven an action or group of
actions
•Ties together related e.g. Law of Gravity
hypotheses •Accepted to be true
•Universal

Copyright Cmassengale 31