The Nature of Science

Lesson 2
THE NATURE
OF SCIENCE
What is science?
 The systematic study of the structure and

behaviour of the physical and natural world
through observation, experimentation, and the
testing of theories against the evidence
obtained.
The
Scientific
Method
The Steps to Success
The Scientific Method
 What is the
scientific method?
 It is a process
that is used to
find answers to
questions about
the world around
us.
 Is there only one “scientific method”?
 No, there are several versions of the
scientific method.
 Some versions have more steps,
while others may have only a few.
 However, they all begin with the
identification of a problem or a
question to be answered based on
observations of the world around us.
 They provide
an organized
method for
conducting and
analyzing an
experiment.
 What is a
hypothesis?
 It is an educated
guess based on
observations and
your knowledge
of the topic.
 You state it as a
possible answer
to a question.
 Stated in the
“If….., then….”
format
 Example: IF I
water three plants
with different
sodas, THEN the
plant that receives
Sprite will grow the
tallest.
 What is data?
 It is information
gathered during
an experiment.
 It is organized
into a data table
and displayed
visually as a
graph.
Graphs
 BAR GRAPHS: can be used to
show how something changes
over time or to compare items.
 have an x-axis (horizontal)
and a y-axis (vertical)
 the x-axis has time period or
what is being measured
 the y-axis has numbers for
the amount of stuff being
measured.
 good when you're plotting
data that spans many years
(or days, weeks...), has really
big changes from year to
year (or day to day...), or
when you are comparing
things.
 LINE GRAPHS: can be
used to show how
something changes over
time
 x-axis has numbers for the
time period
 y-axis has numbers for
what is being measured.
 can be used when you're
plotting data that has
peaks (ups) and valleys
(downs), or that was
collected in a short time
period.
 Used for two sets of
numerical data (ex: time
Steps of the Scientific
Method
 1. Choose a problem: State the

problem as a question.
 2. Research your problem: Read,
get advice, and make observations.
 3. Develop a hypothesis: Make a
prediction about what will happen.
 4. Design an experiment: Plan how
you will test your hypothesis.
 5. Test your hypothesis: Conduct
the experiment and record the data.
 6. Organize your data: Create a
chart or graph of your data.
 7. Draw conclusions: Analyze your
data and summarize your findings.
Identifying
Variables
Independent Variables
Dependent Variables
Controlled Variables (Constants)
3 Kinds of Variables
 Independent
Variable –
something that is
changed by the
scientist
 What is tested
 What is
manipulated
(changed)
 Dependent Variable – something
that might be affected by the
change in the independent variable
 What is observed
 What is measured
 The data collected during the
investigation
 “the numbers”
 Example: how tall the plant grew, how
far the paper airplane flew
Example:
 Controlled Variable – a
variable that is not changed
 Also called CONSTANTS
 Allow for a “fair test”
 Everything in the experiment
except for the IV should be
kept constant
Procedure
 Give a detailed explanation of how you will
conduct the experiment to test your
hypothesis
 Be clear about the variables (elements you
change) versus your constants (elements
that do not change)
 A control is the group that you use as a
comparison to see if change has occurred.
 Example: In a medicine study, the group
of people who don’t get the medicine are
the control group
 Be very specific about how
you will measure results to
prove or disprove your
hypothesis. You should
include a regular timetable
for measuring results or
observing the projects (such
as every hour, every day,
every week)
Conclusion
 Conclusion: your results or findings

based on data collected during the
experiment
 Answer your problem/purpose statement
 What does it all add up to? What is the
value of your project?
 What further study do you recommend
given the results of your experiment?
What would be the next question to ask?
 If you repeat this project, what would you
change?
For Example:
Students of different ages were

given a jigsaw puzzle to put
together. The scientist wanted
to see if the students’ ages
affected how long it took to
put the puzzle together.
Identify the Variables in this
Experiment:
 Independent Variable (IV):

 Ages of the students
 Different ages were tested by the
scientist
 Dependent Variable (DV):
 The time it took to put the puzzle
together
 The time was observed and
measured by the scientist
What were the constants?
 (1) Same puzzle
 All of the participants were tested
with the same puzzle.
 It would not have been a fair test if
some had an easy 30 piece puzzle
and some had a harder 500 piece
puzzle.
 Other constants: (2) same location,
(3) same stopwatch, (4) same person
timing the experiment
Another Example:
 An investigation was done with an
electromagnetic system made from
a battery and wire wrapped around
a nail. Different sizes of nails were
used. The number of paper clips
the electromagnet could pick up
was measured.
What are the Variables?
 IV: Sizes of nails
 These were changed by the scientist
 DV: Number of paper clips picked
up
 The number of paper clips observed
and counted (measured)
 Constants: Battery, wire, type of nail
 None of these items were changed
Let’s Practice!
 If I use a heavier bowling
ball, then the ball will
travel faster down the
lane.
 IV: weight of bowling ball
 DV: speed it traveled
down lane
 2) If I use different
brands of paper towels,
then Bounty will absorb
more water per minute
than Sparkle or Quilted.
 IV: brand of paper towel
 DV: amount of water
absorbed per minute
 3) If I put 3 spider plants in
different locations, then the
plant in the sunlight will
grow taller in a one-week
period than the plants in
the closet and basement.
 IV: location of the plants
 DV: height of plants

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Lesson 2

 The systematic study of the structure and

 1. Choose a problem: State the

 Conclusion: your results or findings

Students of different ages were

 Independent Variable (IV):

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