Name _____________________________________________ Hour__________Date________

Scientific Method Study Guide

1. Write
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

the 6 basic steps of the scientific method in order?

____purpose_________________
____hypothesis________________
____experiment_________________
____record data_________________
____analyze data_________________
____conclusion_________________

2. What does each vocabulary word mean below?

purpose

a relevant question to be asked; one that can

be easily tested

hypothesis

an idea that can be tested by an experiment

or observation

experiment

scientific procedure undertaken to make a

discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate
a known fact

record

The process or writing down observations

made during an experiment

analyze

study or examine something carefully in a

methodical way

conclusion

The result or outcome of an experiment or

observation

independent
The thing being changed by the experimenter
variable
dependent variable The thing that is changing because of the
independent variable/ the thing being
measured
constant variable

The things that keep the experiment

controlled, the things that stay the same in
an experiment

qualitative
observation

An observation using one or more of the 5

senses (qualities)

quantitative
observation

An observation using numbers (quantities)

Purpos
e:
3. What makes a testable question testable? it is not an opinion, I can do an
experiment to answer it, I can collect data and gather evidence
4. Write 2 examples of testable questions.
a.
Which battery will last longer? b. Will studying improve my test score?
5. Write 2 examples of non-testable questions.
a.
Which flower smells better, a rose or a sunflower? b. Which color is
prettier, blue or purple?

Hypothesi
s:
6. Write a hypothesis statement for the researchable question below.
a. Does the shape of an object affect its ability to bounce off surfaces?
b. HYPOTHESIS: _If an object is round, then it will bounce off surfaces.
______________________________________________________________________________

Variables:
Identify the independent, dependent and constant variables for each scenario.
7. Which paper towel brand is strongest when wet?
a. IV: brand of paper towel
b. DV: strength of the paper towel
c. CV: size of the paper towel, amount of water poured on the paper towel,
containers used

Procedur
e:

8. How much water does paper towel A hold?

Put the procedure in logical order. (number the steps in order)
___1____ Place a round funnel on top of the graduated cylinder.
___2____Pour 200 milliliters of water in the beaker that you have.
____5___Squeeze all the water out of the paper towel into the graduated cylinder.
___4____After 15 seconds, take the paper towel out of the beaker.
___6____Record how much water is in the graduated cylinder.
____3___Then take the first brand of paper towel on your list and place it in the beaker.

Observations:
9. Look around the room and give 2 qualitative observations and 2 quantitative observations.
Qualitative: the board is yellow, the calendar has pumpkins on it, the room
smells like flowers, it is quiet in the room

Quantitative: there are 4 bulletin boards, there are 31 days on the calendar,
there are 5 students with red shirts, 29 students have black shoes on