Scientific Method
Scientific Method
• The scientific method is a general description
of scientific thinking rather than an exact path
for scientists to follow.
Steps of the Scientific Method
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Observe
Formulate a Question
Research and Collect Data
Form a Hypothesis
Test the Hypothesis
Analyze Results (data and observations)
Draw Conclusions
Observe
• Observe anything in nature
Example: you notice that when you open a door,
your hear a squeak.
Formulate a Question
• What do you want to know?
Why does this door make noise?
Research and Collect Data
• What is already known about your question?
You may gather data by checking to other doors
and find that the other doors don’t make noise.
Form a Hypothesis
• Propose an answer to your question based on
observations, research, and data.
You may think that if the door makes a noise,
the source of the noise is the doorknob.
Test the Hypothesis
• Variables- something that changed in an
experiment.
• Constants- things the stay the same in an
experiment.
Analyze Data and Observations
When you removed the door knob, you
observed that the sound did not go away.
Next step: revise the hypothesis and change the
variable.
Draw Conclusions
• Did the results support your hypothesis? If
not, modify the hypothesis based on
observations.