Scientific Method
An educated guess
hypothesis
This is the variable changed by the investigator
The independent variable.
What is seen during the experiment that is measured with your senses.
Observation
How does the amount of sunlight affect plant growth?
What is the independent variable in this investigation?
amount of sunlight
What is the independent variable in this question?
How does the amount of caffeine affect heart rate?
amount of caffeine
A process used by scientists to answer an investigative question.
Scientific method
This variable is recorded as data in the data table.
Dependent Variable
An explanation made about the observation.
Inference
How is speed affected by the make and model of the car?
What is the independent variable in this investigation?
car make/model
Name two constants you should have in this experiment.
Does artificial sugar or real sugar attract more ants?
Answers will vary.
Amount of sugar/artificial sugar, location, time of day/year, type of ants, number of ants per trial, how long each trial lasts, etc.
After a hypothesis is made, scientists usually do this...
Experiment
These stay the same in an investigation
Constants
Data that describes what is sensed by the senses, describes the quality of something. IE: The music made them feel happy.
Qualitative Data
When is the best time to plant beans for optimal growth?
What is the dependent variable in this investigation?
bean growth
How many trials should you conduct of this experiment?
How does the shape of the paper airplane affect how far it flies?
Minimum of three per plane design (Better answer: AS MANY TRIALS AS POSSIBLE)
Analyze data
Jessie and James wanted to know how the color of light affects plant height. What is the independent variable in this investigation?
Color of Light
Data that is numbers
Quantitative Data
What type of music is the best?
What is the dependent variable?
Is this investigation qualitative or quantitative, why?
how well the music is liked
qualitative, it is an opinion/description
What could be a control group for this investigative question?
How does the type of fertilizer affect plant growth?
Usually the last step of the scientific method.
Communicate, share results
Sally and Stevie wanted to know how the type of material the ball was made of affected how high it bounced. What is the dependent variable?
How high the ball bounced
The most logical explanation of why something happens in science, strongly supported by multiple lines of evidence.
Scientific theory
What is the effect of pH on the lifespan of tadpoles?
What is the dependent variable in this investigation?
Is this investigation qualitative or quantitative? Why?
Lifespan of tadpoles
Quantitative, time the number of minutes/hours/days the tadpoles live (is measurable)
What type of graph would best display data from the experiment below? Explain your answer.
How does temperature affect bacterial growth?
Line Graph (to show change over time)
Bar Graph (to compare)