Key Elements of the Scientific Method
The scientific method is a set of procedures that scientists follow in order to gain knowledge
about the world.
However, the steps involved in the scientific method vary widely among the different scientific
disciplines. Chemists follow the method a bit differently than psychologists. Geologists and
botanists have their own unique methods. So, is there really one scientific method that
encompasses all of science? To find out, we'll need to learn more about the scientific process.
There are six key steps that tend to characterize the scientific method. The first step is
the question. This is the part where a scientist proposes the problem that he or she wants to
solve. A well-conceived question usually leads to a hypothesis, a potential answer to the
question at hand. Sometimes, hypotheses look more like predictions. The scientist predicts what
the outcome will be when he or she tests the hypothesis. The scientist's test is also called
the experiment. Experiments are ordered investigations that are intended to prove or disprove a
hypothesis. Important data comes from performing an experiment.
The scientist has to make observations of the results that he or she gets from the experiment. An
observation is a statement of knowledge gained through the senses or through the use of
scientific equipment. Observations are crucial for collecting data. Once the results are in, the
scientist must begin the analysis. Data analysis involves comparing the results of the experiment
to the prediction posed by the hypothesis. Based on the observations he or she made, the scientist
has to determine whether the hypothesis was correct. He or she then sums up his or her findings
with a conclusion. The conclusion of a scientific process is a statement of whether the original
hypothesis was supported or refuted by the observations gathered.
The Six Steps
Purpose/Question. Ask a question.
Research. Conduct background research. ...
Hypothesis. Propose a hypothesis. ...
Experiment. Design and perform an experiment to test your hypothesis. ...
Data/Analysis. Record observations and analyze the meaning of the data. ...
Conclusion.
The Six Steps
The number of steps can vary from one description to
another (which mainly happens
when data and analysis are separated into separate
steps), however, this is a fairly standard list of the
six scientific method steps that you are expected to
know for any science class:
1. Purpose/Question : Ask a question.
2. Research: Conduct background research. Write
down your sources so you can cite your
references. In the modern era, a lot of your
research may be conducted online. Scroll to the
bottom of articles to check the references. Even if
you can't access the full text of a published
article, you can usually view the abstract to see
the summary of other experiments. Interview
experts on a topic. The more you know about a
subject, the easier it will be to conduct your
investigation.
3. Hypothesis
Propose a hypothesis. This is a sort of educated
guess about what you expect. It is a statement
used to predict the outcome of an experiment.
Usually, a hypothesis is written in terms of cause
and effect. Alternatively, it may describe the
relationship between two phenomena. One type
of hypothesis is the null hypothesis or the no-
difference hypothesis. This is an easy type of
hypothesis to test because it assumes changing a
variable will have no effect on the outcome. In
reality, you probably expect a change but
rejecting a hypothesis may be more useful than
accepting one.
4. Experiment
Design and perform an experiment to test your
hypothesis. An experiment has
an independent and dependent variable. You
change or control the independent variable and
record the effect it has on the dependent
variable. It's important to change only one
variable for an experiment rather than try to
combine the effects of variables in an
experiment. For example, if you want to test the
effects of light intensity and fertilizer
concentration on the growth rate of a plant,
you're really looking at two separate
experiments.
5. Data/Analysis :Record observations and
analyze the meaning of the data. Often, you'll
prepare a table or graph of the data. Don't throw
out data points you think are bad or that don't
support your predictions. Some of the most
incredible discoveries in science were made
because the data looked wrong! Once you have
the data, you may need to perform a
mathematical analysis to support or refute your
hypothesis.
6. Conclusion
Conclude whether to accept or reject your
hypothesis. There is no right or wrong outcome
to an experiment, so either result is fine.
Accepting a hypothesis does not necessarily
mean it's correct! Sometimes repeating an
experiment may give a different result. In other
cases, a hypothesis may predict an outcome, yet
you might draw an incorrect conclusion.
Communicate your results. The results may be
compiled into a lab report or formally submitted
as a paper. Whether you accept or reject the
hypothesis, you likely learned something about
the subject and may wish to revise the original
hypothesis or form a new one for a future
experiment.
