SCIENTIFIC METHOD

 Scientific method is a way of solving problems through observation.

 

First Step
Question

n      Scientific method normally begins by observing a problem which might be stated as a question.

Question:  Can water be boiled in a paper cup without the cup catching on fire?

 

Second Step

Research

n      What do you know about the problem or question or what can you find out by research from a variety of sources.

This is called research or background information

Third Step

Hypothesis

n      Based on your understanding from what you can find out about the problem you normally make an educated answer based on  your research.

This answer is called a HYPOTHESIS

A hypothesis is a simple cause and effect statement that is testable.

 

HYPOTHESIS:   Because water absorbs a great deal of energy, water can be boiled in a paper cup without burning the cup.

                                         (Cause)                                                              (Effect)

Fourth Step

Experiment

If your are curious, you will want to try to prove it to yourself.  So you will devise an experiment.

The experiment is a cause and effect process.  A variable is controlled (cause) and results are observed.  (effect)  Variables are anything that effect the experiment.  Only one variable can be tested at a time.  If more than one is tested there is no way of knowing which variable causes the results

EXPERIMENT

Experiments have two halves

1.  The control half is the normal or standard to compare against.  It is exactly like the other half except it doesn’t contain the variable being tested

2. The experimental half contains the one variable being tested called the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

3.  The observations of the difference between the two halves is known as the data or results and called the DEPENDENT

         VARIABLE.

4.In the experiment we list the material, and procedure.  These need to be exact so we can review for possible errors and others can reproduce the experiment to verify that the results are true.

5.  The experiment also contains the results or data placed in table form.

6.  The data is normally graphed to better understand the relationships of the data.

Fifth Step
Conclusion

The conclusion does two things

                                                                                 1.  It summarizes the data.

2.  It uses the data to argue for or against the hypothesis

 

 

 

 

BASIC STEPS OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD

 

 

 

TITLE                                               Short concise description of the experiment

PURPOSE                                          The reason for doing the experiment

PROBLEM                                         What you are trying to solve

BACGROUND                                    Those things which you know or find out prior to starting                     

INFORMATION                                 the experiment

HYPOTHESIS                                    An educated (based on background information) proposed answer to the problem 

MATERIALS                                     The items needed to perform an experiment

PROCEDURE                                    The steps taken to solve the problem

DATA                                               The information gathered while performing the experiment

CONCLUSION                                   The results of the experiement

 

 

 

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT WRITING AN EXPERIMENT

 

 

  1. Do not write in first person (we, us I, they, etc.)
  2. The research should give a very clear and logical explanation from which to make you hypothesis.
  3. The hypothesis should be testable and should always attempt to answer the problem. (This does not mean that it has to be right.)  It should be in a cause and effect form.
  4. The procedure is written so you and others can duplicate your experiment.
  5. The conclusion should first organize and explain the data or results.  Based upon this explanation, second the conclusion argues for or against the hypothesis.