STEPS of SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Observation leads to
1. State the Problem or Question
What is it you want to solve?
2. Form a TESTABLE
HYPOTHESIS
Write an “IF..THEN”
educated guess statement
you think will solve the
Problem or Question
3.Design a Controlled Experiment
Design an Experiment with
Procedures & only 1 variable
being tested at a time.
4. Collect & Analyze Results
Organize Data into tables. Graph
data & figure out what it means
5. Draw a Conclusion(s)
State if your hypothesis is
correct or incorrect & why
6. Communicate Results
Communicate your
experimental findings
Ex) Report, Presentation
EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES
OBSERVATIONS: Flies land on meat that is left uncovered. Later, maggots appear on the meat.
HYPOTHESIS: Flies produce maggots.
PROCEDURE
Uncovered jars
Controlled Variables:
jars, type of meat,
location, temperature,
time
Covered jars
Several
days pass
Manipulated Variables:
gauze covering that
keeps flies away from
meat
Responding Variable:
whether maggots
Maggots appear
No maggots appear
appear
CONCLUSION: Maggots form only when flies come in contact with meat. Spontaneous
generation of maggots did not occur.
Plant type, temperature, water amount, time, distance
of light above plant, soil type should all be the same
The different light colors
The amount of growth that occurs
This experiment has too many uncontrolled variables.
We have no way of knowingwhat is causing the plant growth for sure.
Design the experiment so the only variable being tested is
the different light colors
MALES
Period
# who
saw Girl
First
# who saw
Musician
First
FEMALES
% of
Males
who saw
Girl First
# who saw # who saw % of
Girl First
Musician
Females
First
Who saw
Girl First
1A
6
9
40%
3
11
21.5%
2A
2
12
14%
5
3
62.5%
1B
3
13
18.8%
4
9
2B
12
3
75%
4
11
28.5%
3B
3
16
15.8%
2
10
16.7%
TOTALS
26
53
18
44
29%
NEXT :
GRAPH
32.9%
YOUR
30.7%
DATA
CONCLUSION: My hypothesis that males would see the female face at a higher rate
than females did was correct
PILLBUG OBSERVATIONS
PROCEDURE: Place up to 5 pillbugs in a petri dish and make the following observations.
1 A. Are pillbugs rollers or hikers (touch them with a pencil
B. How long is your longest pillbug (mm)______ Shortest (mm)______
Average (mm)______
Convert the mm length to: longest(cm)______ Shortest (m)______
Average (cm)______
C. How many legs do pillbugs have?_________ eyes:_______ antennae:________
D. Put your pillbugs on their backs. How do they turn over?
E. Will a pillbug crawl over an edge and fall?
F. Can pillbugs climb smooth surfaces? If so what angle?
G. How fast can pillbugs move in:
_________cm/sec _______inches/sec
Note: 2.54 cm/inch, 5,280 ft/mile
H. Write down 5 experiments you might try to better understand pillbugs
________mph
Things to keep in mind for the Pillbug Experiment
1. ALL forms of life deserve respect. DO NOT HARM
ANY LIVING ORGANISMS. (Unless maybe its bacteria)
2. When observing living organisms make sure you DO NOT
influence its behavior when trying to learn about its
natural behavior.
3. Have fun with this BUT keep in mind that your behavior
will determine the future of labs-Stay on task,& BEHAVE!
I am always looking for someone to clean something.
Labs or lack of them will affect the “Biology Fun Factor”.
IF YOU SO CHOOSE: (Optional for this Lab)
-you may wear safety goggles
CLEANUP:
-Throw away used paper towels
-Wash, rinse, & dry all equipment before returning it to the proper location.
-Put EVERYTHING back in the specific container from which you took it. Including Pillbugs
-Remember, EVERYONE helps cleanup & the lab must be clean & organized before
ANYONE is dismissed from class.
-Police each other, if you see someone doing something they shouldn’t, let them know
about it . Also keep each other on task & focused on the job at hand.
Add A TITLE
Typed or Hand Written
Due when Binders due
To fix Grammy’s Grandfather Clock by speeding it up.
If I increase the mass, and string length then Grammy’s Grandfather Clock will
have an increased frequency (speed up)
Give Quantitative amounts for all materials used. Example 6 washers
List variable Example : Testing for Mass
-independent variable (manipulated): Mass (g)
Write these in numerical steps
so another
Sophomore
couldfrequency
understand
-dependent
variable
(responding):
(cycles/min)
how to do your experiment
without having
ever done
it.
-controlled:
string length,
amplitude
Testing for Length
You might need 3 data tables, one for each variable being tested.
Pendulum Lab Reflection
1. Did you “zero out” the triple beam balance before measuring the mass of washer(s)
2. Did you use the English or the metric system for measurements?
3. Did you include units?
4. Did you get the Independent variable on the X axis & Dependent on the Y?
5. Did you label your data table and graph with Titles? Units included?
6. Did you test your independent variable(s) systematically- ie. 10,cm, 12,cm,14cm
7. Could others follow your procedures? Did you do enough trials?
8. In your conclusion did you accept or reject your hypothesis?
9. Did you address (possible) experimental error ?
DATA TABLE 1: TESTING for the EFFECT
of WASHER NUMBERS on FREQUENCY
Trial #
# of
Washers
(g)
String
Length
(cm)
Amplitude Frequency
(degrees) (cycles/mi
nute)
1
2
6
45
2
4
6
45
3
6
6
45
What variables are controlled? What is the independent (manipulated) variable?
What is the dependent (responding) variable?
Note: In this data table String Length & Amplitude are controlled while
the independent (manipulated) variable is the # of Washers. The
Responding Variable is the Frequency.
Use “cm” for your pillbugs
Use book or notebook
Do NOT DROWN THEM (2-5 sec)
Stop watch & known distance (1’)
6.
TITLE: Pillbug Experiment
OBJECTIVE: (Question or Problem you want to solve)
HYPOTHESIS: (your testable IF…. THEN statement)
MATERIALS: (list of materials needed for your experiment)
VARIABLES: MANIPULATED: (variable testing)
RESPONDING: (variable being measured-try & making it quantatative)
CONTROLLED: (all other factors which may affect your experiment other than the
manipulated)
PROCEDURES: ( Step by step numerical directions on how to do your experiment)
DATA: (usually a data table to record your experimental results)
CONCLUSION: (use your data to accept or reject your hypothesis & explain what your data told
you about your experiment)
PILL BUG EXPERIMENT PRESENTATION EXPECTATIONS
YOU will be expected to give a short 1-2 minute report on your Experiment
Your report must include the following and a demo. Of your experimental procedure under the
document camera.
TITLE w/ A Picture & Your Names
OBJECTIVE: (Question or Problem you want to solve)
HYPOTHESIS: (your testable IF…. THEN statement)
MATERIALS: (list of materials needed for your experiment)
VARIABLES: MANIPULATED: (variable testing)
RESPONDING: (variable being measured-try & making it quantatative)
CONTROLLED: (all other factors which may affect your experiment other
than the manipulated)
PROCEDURES: ( Step by step numerical directions on how to do your experiment)
DATA: (usually a data table to record your experimental results)
GRAPH (graph your data)
CONCLUSION: (use your data to accept or reject your hypothesis & explain what your data told
Using the materials provided you will have to figure out a way to do or answer the Steps 1-6
today in class. If you need other supplies for your experiment next time you must bring them.
No Inappropriate Equipment can be used (ex. Knives, lighters, etc.)