The Scientific Method

Scientific Method

 Observation
Hypothesis an educated guess based on
observations
Experimentation to test hypothesis
Collection of data
Interpretation of data
Conclusion what does are data tell us
Need for further investigation?
Reporting of results

Principle or Law

Arises from a theory when it is seen

to always be true under all conditions
over a long period of time

E.g. gravity or Bernoulli Principle

Discovered in the 1700s by Swiss

physicist and mathematician Daniel
Bernoulli, this law of physics
stipulates that the pressure of a fluid
(liquid or gas) decreases as the speed
of the fluid increases So what does
this have to do with airplanes? Well,
the shape of the plane's wing as it
passes through the air creates lower
pressure above the wing than
beneath it. This pressure difference is
what allows the wings to push
upward and the plane to take flight.
The faster the wing moves, the more
lift is created, playing a key role in
making sure air traffic stays on the up
and up

A theory
An explanation based on repeated hypothesis
and experimentation

Variables
A factor that can change in your experiment
Should only change one variable at a time

Controls
Provides a standard against which to compare

Double-blind testing
Clever Hans the horse that could read and
do maths

Public Reporting
So that results can be tested by others and
experiments replicated

Sample Size
Study of animals in one zoo

Random Selection
If want to know if students in Patrician college
do their homework, and only studied 6th
years, would this be a fair representation?