Simple mnemonic (with a picture!) to help students remember the steps of the scientific method.

1. How to remember the 7 Steps of the
Scientific Method
“People Really Hate Elephants On Compact Cars.”
The picture will help you remember the steps!

2. How to remember the 7 Steps of the
Scientific Method
“People Really Hate Elephants On Compact Cars.”
1. Problem – The “thing” that you want to know. The question you want
to answer.
2. Research - Information about the problem. What is already known?
3. Hypothesis - Educated guess, or prediction of the outcome of the
experiment. This guess can be tested by performing an experiment.
4. Experiment- Tests the hypothesis.
5. Observations - Data you collect during the experiment.
6. Conclusions - Determine if the hypothesis is correct or not.
7. Communicate - Present your results in a talk or a paper.

3. Example of the Seven Steps
1. Problem: Do mice grow larger if given Vitamin C?
2. Research: Learn about mice, their diet and vitamin C.
3. Hypothesis: If mice are given vitamin C then they will
grow larger
4. Experiment: Two groups of mice – one gets vitamin C,
one does not
5. Observation: Weigh mice after 2 weeks – both groups
are the same size
6. Conclusion: Hypothesis is not correct (rejected)
7. Communicate: Present your results

4. Identify the variables
• Manipulated or Independent Variable (IV)?
– Get Vitamin C or no Vitamin C
• Responding or Dependent Variable (DV)?
– Weight of mice
• Control Group-treated “normally”
– Mice with no Vitamin C
• Experimental Group (IV is changed for this group)
– Mice with Vitamin C
• Constants (controlled variables)
– Same mice (genetically identical), same food (except for Vitamin
C), same weight scale, same cage conditions, same time frame..
• Conclusion
– Accept or Reject the Hypothesis