The
Scientific Method
The
scientific method is a method of investigation used by scientist to discover
or to attempt to discover answers to questions or to solve problems. There
are many different versions of this method. The one this teacher prefers
is a
6-step method.
1.
Problem or Question
Scientists
by nature inquire. They do this by reasons of curiosity, necessity,
profit, or to better the human condition. This inquiry is expressed in the
form of a question.
This
is a clear concise question. Ambiguity in inquiry results in ambiguous
and misleading answers.
2.
Research
Scientist
study writings and bodies of knowledge compiled by other scientists about
their question in order to make more educated guesses or hypotheses.
It is also important to determine if the question has already been answered
to satisfaction.
3.
Hypothesis
u A hypothesis is usually refered to as an educated guess. It is actually a possible explanation for a set of observations made in a specific circumstance. It is the expected outcome of the problem? The hypothesis must be testable using experimentation and/or obsewrvation.
4.
Materials/Procedures
These
are the items needed and the exact step-by-step instructions that are to be used
to perform the experiment. The experiment should be designed to yield results
that will prove or disprove the hypothesis. The steps must be exact
so that the experiment could be recreated and have similar and dependable results.
5.Results
(Observations
only) The results are only what happened. Thoughts about, conclusions,
and inferences do not belong in this section. Scientists prefer quantitative
(measurable/number) results as opposed to qualitative. The body of facts
charts, graphs, and figures found in the results is called the data.
6.
Conclusions
This
is what is thought about the experiment's results. It should answer the
question and either support or refute the hypothesis.
Other
key experiment terms:
Controlled
experiment- an experiment in which only one thing is changed
Variable-
anything that can change in an experiment
Independent
variable -The variable that the scientist changes
Dependent
variable- The variable that changes as a result
of the change the scientist made.
>Constant- A variable that does not change in an experiment. >Control- The standard to which you compare your results in an experiment.
| Review |
1. What is the scientific method?
2.What are the five steps of the scientific method?
3.What must be true of a hypothesis?
4.What is the differece between results and conclusions? |
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