Scientific Method 6 steps to know and understand 10/6/2024 1 Objectives • Explain the 5 stages of the scientific method. • Execute the scientific method. 2 Scientific Method 1. Make an Observation What have you seen recently in the world around you that raised a question in your mind? 3 Scientific Method 2. Recognize the research problem – – The scientist must narrow the observations down to one research problem. Example: Do market steers gain more weight when fed whole corn or whole wheat? 4 Scientific Method 3. Form a hypothesis • • • A hypothesis is an explanation that can be tested. More than a random guess – the scientist usually has some idea of the answer to the question due to prior knowledge. Applied to this knowledge is reasoning power! 5 Scientific Method 4. Design the experiment • • An experiment is a procedure that tests a hypothesis by the process of collecting information under controlled conditions. Should use two groups: • • Control: the standard, all conditions kept the same Experimental: all conditions kept same except single condition being tested 6 Design the Experiment • Only one condition is changed at a time! – Independent variable: the condition being changed. – Dependent variable: the condition that results from the change. • Example: In testing the effects of a feed change on animals, the type of feed is the independent variable while weight gain is the dependent variable. 7 Scientific Method 5. Collect and analyze data • If data supports hypothesis, conclusions may be draw and a recommendation made • If data does not support hypothesis, it helps the scientist create a new hypothesis. – • Sometimes a second experiment is being created even as the first one continues. Data may be numerical, or descriptive in form, depending on the experiment. 8 Scientific Method 6. Draw conclusions and create recommendations • • • • Analyzing the data can take the greatest amount of time. Scientists might end up with more questions than they started with. Data may only be considered confirmed if it’s repeated several times and yields similar results. Only after a hypothesis is supported by additional data is it considered valid and accepted. 9 Objectives • Explain the 5 stages of the scientific method. • Execute the scientific method. 10

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