The Nature of

Science and The

Scientific Method
What is Science
SCIENCE IS…..
◼ a way in which answers related to NATURAL events
are proposed
◼ a way in which people can learn and UNDERSTAND
events in the NATURAL WORLD.
◼ based on OBSERVABLE EVENTS
◼ a study of the NATURAL WORLD
◼ a method of DISCOVERY and UNDERSTANDING
by using a PROBLEM SOLVING process called the
scientific method
 The Scientific
Method involves a
series of steps that
are used to
investigate a
natural
occurrence.
7 Steps to the Scientific Method
◼ 1. Make an observation and ask a question
◼ 2. RESEARCH!!!
◼ 3. Form a hypothesis (If I do this….then this will happen)
◼ 4. Plan an experiment/investigation to Test the
hypothesis (need aim and variables)
◼ 5. Carry out the experiment/investigation to
Collect, Organize and Analyze the Data
◼ 6. Draw Conclusions
◼ 7. Communicate the result (SCIENTIFIC REPORT)
Scientific method
Step 1: Observations

◼ Observations based on senses or tools

 Sight, Smell, Touch etc.
◼ Observations of natural events usually
raise a question
 Why did the water rise when the candle went
out?
Step 2: Research
◼ Do research to find out about your
question.
◼ If its been answered before, then no need
to answer it again.
◼ Research allows you to formulate an
experiment and to identify ideas and
variables.
Step 3: Form A Hypothesis
◼ Based on your observation a Hypothesis is
formed that tries to explain your observation or
answer your question
A hypothesis tries to predict or determine the
outcome of your experiment even before the
experiment is done
◼ Predictions usually stated in an “if ….. Then” statement. Ex:
If I drop a rock then it will fall down toward the ground
◼ HYPOTHESIS MUST BE TESTABLE!
◼ If I do this then that will happen
◼ If X (independent variable) is …… then Y (dependent
variable) will be…..
Step 4: Test the Hypothesis
◼ Controlled Experiments are used to test a hypothesis
 A controlled experiment is an experiment that tests only
one factor at a time. Fair test = only one independent
variable being tested at a time.
 a control group is compared with an experimental group.
Variables are not changed in the Control Group.
 Experiment – is exposed to the independent variable
 Control – is not exposed to the independent variable
 Control groups allows you to see if a change in a variable
creates an observed outcome by comparing the control
group with the exp. Your Control is the basis of comparison
to see what happens if we change the independent variable.
What happens if I change this.
 A variable is any factor that can effect an experiment – 3
TYPES
 A control is compared to the experiment so that I
can see what has changed/happened
3 Types of VARIABLES
◼ INDEPENDENT ( I change)
 The variable being changed in the experiment
 The variable I choose to change
◼ DEPENDENT
 The variable that responds to the changed
independent variable
 The variable being measured
 What happened because I changed the independent
variable.
◼ FIXED / CONTROLLED
 Must be kept the same for all
 NB! Full sentences
 Independent Variable Dependent Variables Controlled Variables
Question
(What I change) (What I observe) (What I keep the same)

How much water

Water faucet opening Amount of water •The Faucet
flows through a
(closed, half open, fully flowing measured in •Water pressure, or how much
faucet at different
open) liters per minute the water is "pushing“
openings?
 Independent Variable Dependent Variables Controlled Variables
Question (What I change) (What I observe) (What I keep the same)

Growth of the plant

Same size pot for each plant
Does fertilizer Same type of plant in each pot
Amount of fertilizer [Link] by its
make a plant grow Same type and amount of soil in
measured in grams height
bigger? each pot
[Link] by the
Same amount of water and light
number of leaves
Make measurements of growth
[Link] ways to
for each plant at the same time
measure plant growth
Reliability vs Validity
◼ Reliabilty
 To increase the reliability of the experiment
 Improve experiments/ get better results
 REPEAT (use average)
 Increase sample size/ large sample size

◼ Validity
 Variables (fixed). What did you do to ensure
that only one Independent Variable effected
the outcome?
Step 4 Continued
◼ Scientists try to design experiments that will clearly
show whether a particular VARIABLE caused an
observed outcome
◼ Planning steps (eg. Obtain permission, buy
chemicals etc)
◼ IF IT CANNOT BE OBSERVED THEN IT CANNOT
BE TESTED!!!
◼ Sometimes models are used to represent a real
object
 Used when it is difficult to control all of the variables or not
possible to test “the real thing”
Step 5: Collect, Organize &
Analyze Data
◼ Data collected from experiments
 Data is defined as: recorded observations or
measurements (qualitative = description, quantitative
= number data)
 Based on observations
 Utilize tools or senses: sight, smell, temperature
change etc.
◼ Data is organized in tables and graphs so that it
can be more easily analyzed and interpreted
Data - Tables
◼ Independent (X) is always in the left hand column
◼ Dependant (Y) is always in the right hand column
◼ MUST always label and include units
◼ Must draw all the lines for the table
◼ Must have a Heading
(that explains relationship
of both variables)

The effect of pH of soil on the

Average growth of a plant
 Number x 360 = ______o
Data - Pie Chart Total

Displays data using a circle divided into sectors.

We use a circle graph (also called a pie chart) to
show how data represent portions
of one whole or one
group. Used to show % of
a whole.
MUST always show all
calculations
Must have a Heading
Slices must be labeled
Data - Graphs
◼ Independent variable is always on the X axis *
◼ Dependant variable is always on the Y axis *
◼ SCALE NB!!!!!!!!
◼ MUST always label axis and include units
◼ Use Pen for labels and units and pencil for
drawing the graph
◼ Must have a Heading (that explains relationship
of both variables)
◼ *NB!!!! In PS cans ask Y vs X
 Bar Graph
Displays data by using bars of equal width on a
grid. The bars may be vertical or horizontal. Bar
graphs are used for comparisons. Used when
data is not
Continuous
(discontinuous data)
Bars DO NOT touch
Histogram
Displays data by using bars of equal width on a
grid. The bars may be vertical or horizontal. Bar
graphs are used for comparisons. Used when
data is Continuous
Bars touch!!
Line Graph (in L.S Do not use words such as directly and
indirectly proportional as relationships do not follow these perfectly)
A graph showing data points joined by line
segments to show trends over time.
To calculate the Gradient:
Divide the change in Y by
the change in X

Gradient = Change in Y ÷
Change in X
 Line Graph - Line of best fit *P.S.
A graph showing variables that are directly
proportional. This is a “line of best fit” graph
where a straight line is drawn to fit the data
points.
In P.S. use directly and
inversely proportional
as relationships follow these
perfectly. We never use
indirectly proportional in P.S.)
Line Graph *P.S.
◼ A graph showing variables that are
inversley proportional.
◼
Step 6: Draw Conclusions
◼ Scientists decide whether the results of
the experiment support a hypothesis or
not.
◼ When the hypothesis is not supported by
the tests the scientist must find another
explanation for what they have observed
◼ Hypothesis Must change!! NEVER EVER
change data to fit the hypothesis!!
Step 7: Communicate the
Results
◼ Results must be communicated in the form of a
written paper = Scientific report.
◼ Someone else must be able to take your
scientific report and recreate your experiment
with similar results
◼ Communication helps other scientists
performing the same experiments to see if the
results of your experiment are the same as their
results
 Experimental results must be repeatable!
Scientific Report Format
◼ Abstract
◼ Introduction
◼ Aim
◼ Hypothesis and Variables
◼ Precautions (experimental and safety)
◼ Apparatus and Method (logical and repeatable)
◼ Results
◼ Analysis and Interpretation
◼ Conclusion
◼ Recommendations
◼ Bibliography (Format is NB!)
Bibliography format
 Textbooks
Author (Surname and Initials), Title of book, date of publication,
Publisher, Place of Publication and page numbers.
 Interview
◼ Persons full name, Title (what they do e.g. nurse), place of
interview, Date and Time.
 Internet – full address that if typed in will take you to the exact
page used! NOT [Link]
◼ [Link]
◼ [Link]
Theories
◼ Theories are explanations for some
phenomena based on observation,
experimentation, and reasoning.
 BASED ON MANY EXPERIMENTS
 Experiments that explain a theory MUST
be repeatable
 You must be able to predict from a
theory
LAWS
◼ Laws are summaries of many
experimental results and
observations
◼ Laws are not the same as theories
because laws tell only what happens,
not why it happens.