The Scientific Method
Problem: What are you
going to solve?
The problem or purpose
explains exactly what you
hope to accomplish in the
investigation.
Hypothesis: How do you
think it will turn out?
Use the facts you already
know to come up with a
guess that makes sense.
Materials: List the
materials and equipment
you need to complete the
experiment (include
diagrams if needed).
Variables: Explain the
Independent
(manipulated –
what you know you
are changing)
Dependent
(responding – the
outcome you are
measuring)
Constants (these do
not change)
Procedure: Write down all
steps you must take to
complete the experiment.
The Scientific Method
Data and work: Include
tables, data, and
observations from the
experiment. This requires
very careful notes on
everything you do.
Write down exactly what
happened, even if it is not
what you expected. This
section will probably
require extra sheets of
paper.
Analysis: Ask who, what,
when, where, why, and
how questions to analyze
your data, observations,
and results. Did the results
surprise you? Did you learn
anything unexpected?
Conclusion: State what you
learned from the lab. Did
the results agree with your
hypothesis? Make sense of
your data, observations,
and results.