1. The Scientific Method Part Two: Unit One, Lesson 2.2 By Margielene D.

Judan
2. LESSON OUTLINE Throwback: The Scientific Method Testing the Hypothesis
Experimentation Three Types of Experiments Understanding Experimental
Variables
3. THROWBACK: THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD It is a systematic way of investigation in
order to solve a problem.
4. THROWBACK: BASIC STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD 1. State the problem or
ask questions. (Observation) 2. Form a hypothesis. 3. Test your hypothesis by
experimentation. 4. Record and analyze data. 5. State a conclusion. 6. Report your
findings.
5. The Scientific Method Flowchart (always use this chart when making scientific
investigations)
6. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS To test the hypothesis, the experiment should be a
fair test (you change only one variable at a time while keeping other conditions the
same). To insure that your experiment is a fair test, you must change only one
factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same. Control group- the
part of the experiment without the variables being tested Experimental group- the
part that contains the variable being tested.
7. EXPERIMENTATION Basically a test of hypothesis
8. When experimenting, you must also make predictions. Predictions are forecasts
of future events based on past observations.
9. THREE TYPES OF EXPERIMENT 1. Controlled experiment 2. Natural experiment 3.
Field experiment
10. Controlled Experiments an experiment or trial that uses controls, usually
separating the subjects into one or more control groups and experimental groups.
A variable is a characteristic, number, or quantity that increases or decreases
over time. It is anything that you can change or control in an experiment. There
are three kinds of variables: (next slide)
11. 3 Kinds of Variables Controlled variable- constant and unchanged in an
experiment. Independent variable- factors which you change or alter during the
experiment Dependent variable- response to an independent variable
12. Natural or Quasi-Experiments No variable is being changed or altered Rely
solely on observations to determine the factors which caused the phenomenon (ex.
Astronomy. To prove that the earth is round, you dont need to change any
variables. You cannot change the amount of sunlight, nor the shape of the earth.
You just need to determine or identify the factors which caused the phenomenon.)

13. Field Experiments applies the scientific method to experimentally examine an

intervention in the real world rather than in the laboratory Often used in social
sciences such as psychology, economics, and political science Field- outside the
lab/not conducted inside a laboratory
14. Example: (refer to your book p. 31) A group of student tested the effect of
fertilizer on the growth of plants. They used six plants that are 15 cm tall. They
grouped the plants into two groups: A and B. They watered the plants in group A
with 200 mL of plain water and in group B with 200 mL of fertilizer solution. They
watered the plants twice a week with the same amount of water and exposed them
to the same amount of sunlight. After three weeks, they measured the growth of the
plants in each group.
15. Example: (refer to your book p. 31) Treatment: 200 mL of plain water twice a
week for 3 weeks 18 cm tall 32 cm tall The following are the results: Group A
Group B Treatment: 200 mL of fertilizer solution twice a week for 3 weeks
16. Question 1: Which is the experimental and control group? Treatment: 200 mL of
plain water twice a week for 3 weeks 18 cm tall 32 cm tall Group A Group B
Treatment: 200 mL of fertilizer solution twice a week for 3 weeks
17. Answer: Group A- control group Group B- experimental group Treatment: 200 mL
of plain water twice a week for 3 weeks 18 cm tall 32 cm tall Group A Group B
Treatment: 200 mL of fertilizer solution twice a week for 3 weeks
18. Control group- the part of the experiment without the variables being tested
(Group A has no variables tested. It is only watered with plain water. But a control
group is important for us to be able to compare the results with the experimental
group.) Experimental group- the part that contains the variable being tested. (Group
B was watered with fertilizer [the variable being tested])
19. Question 2: Which is the controlled, independent, and dependent variables?
Treatment: 200 mL of plain water twice a week for 3 weeks 18 cm tall 32 cm tall
Group A Group B Treatment: 200 mL of fertilizer solution twice a week for 3 weeks
20. Answers: Controlled variable amount of sunlight, kind of plant, initial size of
plant Independent variable -amount of fertilizer Dependent variable -growth of plant
21. Answer: Controlled variable amount of sunlight, kind of plant, initial size of plant
Controlled variable- constant and unchanged in an experiment. Both groups are
have the same amount of sunlight, kind of plant, and have the same size at start of
the experiment.
22. Answer: Independent variable -amount of fertilizer Independent variable- factors
which you change or alter during the experiment The difference between the
experiment is that we used a fertilizer solution instead of water on group B.

23. Answer: Dependent variable -growth of plant Dependent variable- response to

an independent variable As a result to the fertilizer (independent variable), there is
a difference in their growth size.
24. Take note of these following terms. You need to be able to identify and
differentiate each. They will always appear in our experiments and lab works.
Experimental and control group Controlled, independent, and dependent
variables A fair test
25. Laboratory Tomorrow/next meeting (by group): Bring the following Three 250
ml transparent cups Cold, normal, and hot water Dropper Ink Two
Stopwatches (1 is enough) Black, Blue, and Red Ballpen Ruler