Scientific Methot

Scientific Methot

1. 1. Observation = Question: Scientific investigations begin with observation, the act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way.

2. 2. hypothesis = hypothesis. A hypothesis is a scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tested in ways that support or reject it.

3. 3. Controlled experiments = Whenever possible, a hypothesis should be tested by an experiment in which only one variable is changed. All other variables should be kept unchanged, or controlled. This type of experiment is called a controlled experiment.

4. 5. Controlled Group = A control group is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group except for one independent variable. Scientists always try to reproduce or replicate their observations. Therefore, they set up several sets of control and experimental groups, rather than just a single pair.

5. 4. Data = Scientists make detailed records of experimental observations, gathering information called data. There are two main types of data. Quantitative data are numbers obtained by counting or measuring. In the marsh grass experiment, quantitative data could include the number of plants per plot, the length, width, and weight of each blade of grass, and so on.6

6. 6. Conclusions Scientists use experimental data as evidence to support, refute, or revise the hypothesis being tested, and to draw a valid conclusion. Hypotheses are often not fully supported or refuted by one set of experiments