Scientific Method How Scientists Work The Scientific Method

Scientific Method How Scientists Work

The Scientific Method n. A way to answer a question or problem in any field of science n No one way to do science, yet all scientific methods have the same components n Based on deductive thinking or inquiry n May never produce an answer… – This is okay

Problem/Question n Something observed in nature must trigger a question n Something to solve

Research n Research is done on the question n Has anyone asked this before? n Has the answer already been found?

Hypothesis n. A possible answer or educated guess – Matches the question n Sometimes written as an “if…then” statement n The hypothesis must be testable – Allows for experimentation

Experiment An experiment is designed to prove the hypothesis n Uses observations n – Senses or measurements with tools Generates data n Must have a control n – A comparison, something that doesn’t change n Should only test one variable (maybe two) – A variable is something that changes

Analyze Data n The experiment generates data n The data must be studied and a conclusion must be made regarding the hypothesis – Accept hypothesis § Data seems to support hypothesis § Repeat experiment many times to prove data and conclusion is ok – Reject hypothesis § Look for possible errors and start process over

Theory n Sometimes a hypothesis is found to be a true description of nature – This allows a theory to be made – A theory is well tested