Using The Scientific Method printable pdf download

Name: _________________________________

Using the Scientific Method

Partner: _________________________________

Hour: ________

In this activity, you will use the scientific method to answer a question. The scientific method

is an organized plan for gathering, organizing, and communicating information. The goal of

the scientific method is to solve a problem (answer a question) or better understand an

observed event. So…what question are you going to answer?

Step 1 – Ask a Question:

To decide what question you and your partner are going to answer, you should

brainstorm and come up with at least ten possible questions you would like to know the

answer to. For example:

Which brand of fingernail polish remover works the best?

Do Sham Wow towels really do what they are advertised to do?

How many pennies can a bridge made of a dollar bill hold?

Do long-lasting lip sticks really last a long time?

Do people prefer the taste of Pepsi or Coke? Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke?

Now that you have your possible questions, you need to decide which question you will

try to answer. Some points to keep in mind are: 1) Is this question testable in our

laboratory, 2) Do I have or can I get the materials needed to test this question in the

laboratory (i.e. if your question has to do with long-lasting lip stick, do you have or can

you get different samples of long-lasting lip stick), 3) Is this question testable within the

time frame of this activity (1 to 2 days).

When you have selected the question you would like to answer, check with the teacher

to ensure that it is appropriate for the activity. Once your question is approved, write

your question in the appropriate place on the Scientific Method Lab Sheet.

Step 2 – Develop a Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a proposed answer to a question. Hypotheses are written in an If…Then

format. The first step in writing a good hypothesis is to list all the possible answers to your

question. If your question is - Do people prefer Pepsi or Coke – the possible answers are

1) people may prefer Pepsi and 2) people may prefer Coke. Notice that I have used

the word “may” in each of my answers. This is to ensure that I am writing a hypothesis

and not a conclusion.

Using The Scientific Method