Scientific Method
What is the first step of the scientific method?
Make an observation/ state the problem or question.
What is a hypothesis?
A testable explanation for a question or problem.
What type of reasoning looks for patterns in the natural world?
Inductive Reasoning
What is a controlled experiment?
A controlled experiment changes only one variable at a time.
What is science?
A logical way of thinking about the world.
What step comes after forming a hypothesis?
Test with an experiment.
Is a hypothesis a guess or a proven fact?
A guess based on what you already know; it is not proven.
What type of reasoning compares new things to rules of the natural world?
What is the independent variable?
The variable the scientist changes.
What is an observation?
Something you can directly see, hear, smell, or measure.
What step comes after testing with an experiment?
Collect and analyze data
What should you say about a hypothesis after looking at the results?
The results either support or do not support/refute the hypothesis.
A scientist observes that several birds have feathers and develops a general rule. What type of reasoning is this?
Inductive Reasoning
What is the dependent variable?
The variable the scientist measures.
What is an inference?
A logical guess or prediction based on observations.
Put these steps in the correct order: Draw conclusions, Form a hypothesis, Report results, Test with an experiment.
Form a hypothesis → Test with an experiment → Draw conclusions → Report results
A student asks, “Does the amount of sunlight affect plant growth?” Write a testable hypothesis for this question.
“If a plant receives more sunlight, then it will grow taller.”
A scientist knows that birds have feathers and uses this rule to identify a new animal. What type of reasoning is this?
Deductive Reasoning
Why should scientists only change one variable at a time in a controlled experiment?
So the scientist can determine what caused the results.
What is the difference between an observation and an inference?
An observation is directly detected; an inference is a conclusion/guess based on that observation.
A scientist has collected and analyzed her data. What two steps come next?
Draw conclusions → Report results
A student wants to test whether the amount of water affects plant growth. Write a hypothesis using the “If…then…” format and identify what will be changed and what will be measured.
Example: “If plants receive more water, then they will grow taller.”
Explain the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning.
A scientist changes the fertilizer amount, sunlight, and water at the same time. Why is this a problem?
Because multiple variables were changed, the scientist cannot confidently determine which variable caused the results.
A student sees a plant with yellow leaves and says, “The plant is sick.” Which part is the observation and which part is the inference?