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question word table [I do this] review abstract


what if... “If __________, measure data
Find a general
[this]
then __________ photos final report
topic that
interests you network will happen.”
Look at the
results of your
display
when I... and write down
notebook
experiment with

label board
plan
the question a critical eye. A picture
that you want Quantities speaks a
to answer. whose values
variables
how do...
thousand
can change are words!
called variables.
graphs
Ask Do Background Construct a Test with an Analyze If True Communicate

if
a Question Research Hypothesis Experiment Data Results

?
If False

L
The scientific method
which... So that you can A hypothesis is an Your experiment tests whether your Once your experiment or To complete your
starts when you ask
a question about
design an experiment,
you need to research
educated guess about
how things work:
hypothesis is true or false. It is important
for your experiment to be a fair test.
is complete, collect
your measurements
Partially True science project, you
will communicate your
something that you Learn from the what techniques “If ____[I do this]____, You conduct a fair test by making sure that and analyze them to results to others in a
observe: How, What, experience of and equipment then ____[this]____ you change only one factor at a time while see if your hypothesis final report and/or
When, Who, Which, others. might be best for will happen.” keeping all other conditions the same. is true or false. a display board.
Professional scientists
Why, or Where? investigating your You must state do almost exactly

And, in order for


topic. Rather than your hypothesis in
THINK! TRY AGAIN the same thing by

identify
starting from scratch, a way that you can publishing their final
the scientific method savvy investigators easily measure, You should also repeat your experiment Scientists often find that report in a scientific
to answer the
question, it must be
about something
key words want to use their
library and Internet
and, of course, your
hypothesis should
several times to make sure that the first
results weren’t just an accident.
their hypothesis was
false, and, if so, they will
journal or by presenting
their results on a poster
at a scientific meeting.
research to help be constructed in construct a new one.
that you can them find the best a way to help you Your experimental Even if the hypothesis

careful
measure, preferably procedure is like

math
way to do things. answer your

be positive
was true, they may want

why does...
with a number. original question. a step-by-step to test it in a new way.
recipe for your

where can... bibliography accurate science


average be confident
consistent
experiment.
conclusions
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> To p i c S e l e c t i o n W i z a r d > B ackground Research Plan > Variables f o r B eg i n n e r s > Experimental Procedure > Dat a A n a l ys i s & G ra p h s > F i n a l Re p o r t
> S c i e n c e Fa i r P r o j e c t Ideas > Finding Information > Variables > Mat e r i a l s L i s t > S u m m a r i z i n g Yo u r Dat a > S c i e n c e Fa i r P r o j e c t A b s t ra c t
> Yo u r Q u e s t i o n > Bibliography > Hypothesis > Co n d u c t i n g a n E x p e r i m e n t > Sample Spreadsheet > D i s p l ay B o a r d D e s i g n ,
Tips, and Samples
> Engineering > Research Paper > L a b o rat o r y No t e b o o k > Co n c l u s i o n s
& P r og ra m m i n g P r o j e c t Tips > S c i e n c e Fa i r J u d g i n g

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD The scientific method is a way to ask and


answer scientific questions by making
observations and doing experiments.
Copyright © 2007 Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable Foundation and Seagate Technology. All rights reserved.
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