The 6 Step Scientific MethodA Review & Extension
Mr. Gibson ScienceRoom 213
Unit 2 – The Six Step Scientific Method
What is the Six (6) Step Scientific (or Experimental) Method?
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Unit 2 – The Six Step Scientific Method
The Six (6) Step Scientific Method - termsTERM(S) Working Definitions of the terms.
Systematic approach Using similar ways/common procedures
Scientific “Method” A “step-wise” systematic approach supported by repeatable experimental data that can be verified or falsified by peer group scientists.
Observation Noticing an event or pattern of events [and then] the gathering of information
-- Existing Knowledge
-- Qualitative Data
-- Quantitative Data
Let’s start with an observation…
Mr. Gibson
No… not that observation… a natural observation; one that can be experimented
with.
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Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
A Flow Diagram is provided to the right. This should have been part of your middle school experience but, that was soooooo long ago…
Observed events
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
So; we will be using a “Twin-burning”
candle demo-experiment in class
to study the six steps of this Method first
hand.
Observed events
What’s he talking about? I’ve got
no clue…
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
After making an observation the scientist goes to the 1st Step:Anyone know what the first step is ?
Observation
I’m drawing a blank. You know? I’ve got
no clue…
?
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
The 1st Step is creating a
Purpose –or- Question.
for your scientific study.
Observed events
Oh yeah! That’s right.
I’ve got no clue…
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
PURPOSE -OR-
QUESTIONWhat do we really
mean for this step…?
How about me? How long do I
have to stand here holding this
candle?
Geeze-loueeze! All these
questions! Do you know?
I’ve got no clue…
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
PURPOSE -OR-
QUESTION[Hint: It goes back to
the original observation.].
How about me? How long do I
have to stand here holding this
candle?
Nope, still a blank but,;
dude! You need a new script!!!
I’ve got no clue…
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
PURPOSE -OR-
QUESTIONWhat did the
scientist(s) observe that they now want
to learn about.
How about me? How long do I
have to stand here holding this
candle?
Of course! I knew that! Yeah,
right…
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
Now that we’ve observed something
and asked our question or stated a
purpose; Step 2 is????
Observed events
I must be getting old… I don’t remember ANY of this! You know?
I’ve got no clue…
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
?
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
[Hint: copy one person’s is
“plagiarism”, copy many is
“research”…]
(sigh)
(Sigh) My mind’s broken… and if you say that again I’m going to get it tattooed on your
forehead!I’ve got no clue…
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
?
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
RESEARCHSearch as many
sources as you can, getting the most
information before experimenting!
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONObserved events
Why does he ask and then give the answer so fast?
IDK…
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
The third step is?
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONObserved events
?
This’ too much! Think I’ll get him
to give me an “RR” pass. I’m going
with!
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
HYPOTHESIS
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONObserved events
HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH
Someone take good notes for us… brb.
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
HYPOTHESISThis is an
“educated guess”
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONObserved events
HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
HYPOTHESISIn this step you
are trying to “predict” your answer to your
Purpose –or- Question in step
one.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONObserved events
HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
HYPOTHESISAND!!!!
In Mr. Gibson’s class your hypothesis
MUST come in an
“IF…. THEN…” format.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONObserved events
HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
HYPOTHESISFor example…“IF we use a
green colored grow light in our
greenhouse to take advantage
of the chlorophyll “c” pigment THEN
will lettuce grow faster?
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONInstead of doing this… think I’ll ask for an “RR” pass
too.
HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
HYPOTHESISSo; this step is an
educated guess that comes in the format of an “IF… THEN…”
question that “predicts” the
answer or outcome.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONOBSERVATION
HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH
‘scuse me… didn’t realize I dropped my antennae. I need ‘em to find the “rr”.
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
This now brings us to Step Four…
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONOBSERVATION
HYPOTHESIS
?
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
STEP FourWith our
observation, research and
hypothesis question done…
How do we move forward in trying
to find our predicted answer?
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONOBSERVATION
HYPOTHESIS
?
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
STEP FourYes! The FUN
part of science…
EXPERIMENT
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONOBSERVATION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
EXPERIMENTThe designing and testing of
your HYPOTHESIS question –or-
“IF… part;to see if the “then” part;
of your PREDICTION will
be correct.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONOBSERVATION
I’m back… in case you missed me.
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
EXPERIMENTRemember!!!
Your experimental
design must have a “variable”, a “non-variable”,
and a “control” in order to avoid
“scientific confirmational
bias”.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONOBSERVATION
… didn’t think so… did I miss anything?
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
Now that we are this far along and you
DID have this in your middle school
experience… what would Step Five be?
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTIONI’m a higher order life form… I don’t need antennae to
find the “rr”. Much faster.
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
?
We’re back. Hey candle holding dude how’d you beat us back?
Are both my antennas on? Mom says I’d forget my head if it wasn’t
fastened on.
RESEARCH
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
If you recalled that the Fifth Step is…
ANALYSIS… you would be
correct!!!
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION… geeze those two
go on & on… Makes Mr. G. a
“piker” compared to ‘em.
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
?
No antennae, huh? How do
you get through the day? Would
make a great experiment.
Uh, what is a head??? What
did mama mean?
RESEARCH
OBSERVATIONSUnit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
ANALYSIS It’s your data which
you can put into tables, charts,
graphs… [ACT] “data representation”!!!
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
Hey! Who took notes for us while we were
gone? Uh…IDK
RESEARCH
Hmm… that’s an honest question.
Would that go into step one or three?
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
ANALYSIS In your analysis you will also include a
statement of falsifiability which
means…
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
(sigh) How are we supposed to learn
anything if someone doesn’t take notes for
us while we mess around in the “rr”?
No clue…
RESEARCH
… geeze! The way those two talk in class all the time
they must think they are special and the only ones
here!
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
ANALYSIS “IF (some other
testable condition or facts) were to be true… THEN my
hypothesis would be false.”
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
Goof! My question was rhetorical. That means the question is really
the answer.Okay but,
that seems silly to me.
RESEARCH
When do we get up outta here?Unit 2: The Six Step
Scientific Method
And finally…Step Six is?
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
?Hurray! A light at the
end of the tunnel?Uhhh… what
tunnel are you talking
about?
RESEARCH
Now there’s an idea for those two… flames. And
low & behold I’ve got two!
Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
Step Six is
Conclusion
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
ConclusionI could flame you for a
week if I answered you.Sorry, but I
don’t get you OR him…
RESEARCH
Hmmm, at least I now know why I’ve been
holding this all this time.Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
Step Six is
Conclusion This is basically your
“answer” to your hypothesis question
or prediction.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
ConclusionArrrgh!
RESEARCH
Oh! Was that another of those
rhetorical question thingys?
DratS! I should have thought of this in slide
four.Unit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
Step Six is
Conclusion Even if your
hypothesis was wrong, you’ve
learned something.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
ConclusionWait a minute, we’re
bugs. Let’s go under the door now!
RESEARCH
I’m with you. I don’t trust a guy
with one eye bigger than the other holding a burning candle.
OBSERVATIONSUnit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
Step Six is
Conclusion If you were wrong,
you can “re-hypothesize” and
conduct new experiments that
have been adjusted for what you’ve
learned.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
Conclusion
RESEARCH
Hey! You lost
your
antennas
again Leave them!
It’s a fair
trade!
OBSERVATIONSUnit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
There are three terms you’ll need to know for the
Six Step Method:• Independent variable;• Dependent variable;• Control
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
Conclusion
RESEARCH
OBSERVATIONSUnit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
There are three terms you’ll need to know for the
Six Step Method:• Independent variable;
The part of the experiment that the experimenter does or controls directly.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
Conclusion
RESEARCH
OBSERVATIONSUnit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
There are three terms you’ll need to know for the
Six Step Method:• Dependent variable;
The part of the experiment that changes (varies) because of what the experimenter does.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
Conclusion
RESEARCH
OBSERVATIONSUnit 2: The Six Step Scientific Method
There are three terms you’ll need to know for the
Six Step Method:• Control
The control should be the part of the experiment where you make a copy of the independent variable and set it aside in the same area subject to the surrounding environment outside the experiment.
PURPOSE-or-
QUESTION
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
ANALYSIS
Conclusion
RESEARCH