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What is Science?
 The systematic study of the world, space, and the
processes governing them.
 Scientists collect and analyze data to solve a problem.
 They use the Scientific Method
The Scientific Method
 The Scientific Method is a guide used to
ensure that experiments and observations
are done in an orderly and complete fashion.
1. State the Problem
2. Research the Problem
3. Form a Hypothesis
4. Test the Hypothesis
5. Analyze the Data from the Experiment
6. Form a Conclusion
Variables
 Variables are anything that can be changed within an
experiment.
 There are 2 types of variables….
Independent Variables
 An independent variables is the part of the experiment
that is changed by the person doing the experiment.
 Normally this is what is being studied.

Examples:
 A scientist studies the impact of a drug on cancer.
 The drug
 A scientist studies the impact of withholding affection on rats.
 Amount of affection
Dependent Variables
 A dependent variable is the part of an experiment that
is changed by the independent variable.

Examples:
 A scientist studies the impact of a drug on cancer.
 The impact
 A scientist studies the impact of withholding affection on rats.
 The reaction of the rats
Control Group
 The control is the part of the experiment that is not
changed and is used to compare the experimental
results to.

Examples:
 A scientist studies the impact of a drug on cancer.
 The group that did not get the drug.
 A scientist studies the impact of withholding affection on rats.
 The rats that got the normal amount of affection.
Reliable and Valid
 Reliable and valid experiments can be repeated and
similar results will be obtained.
 All experiments should be repeated to ensure reliability.
Types of Descriptions
 Qualitative descriptions describe an object’s quality
without using specific values.
 There are no numbers used in qualitative descriptions.
 Quantitative descriptions describe an object using
specific values.
 There are numbers involved in quantitative descriptions.
 The fish is gold.
 The fish has two eyes.