THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
A.K.A THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
The Academic Support Center @ Daytona State College (Science 116, Page 1 of 9)
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Steps in the Scientific Method

Observation/Question

Hypothesis

Experiment

Data/Results

Conclusion

Verify
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Steps in the Scientific Method
Observation/Question

Gathered through your senses

A scientist notices something in their
natural world
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Steps in the Scientific Method
Hypothesis

A suggested solution to the problem.

Must be testable

Sometimes written as If…Then… statements

Predicts an outcome
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Steps in the Scientific Method
Experiment

A procedure to test the hypothesis.

Variable – factor in the experiment that is
being tested
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Steps in the Scientific Method
Data

Results of the experiment

May be quantitative (numbers) or
qualitative (observations)
Results

Attempts to explain what you discovered
from your data/observations
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Steps in the Scientific Method
Conclusion

The answer to the hypothesis based on the
data obtained from the experiment.
Verify

In order to verify the results, experiments
must be repeated.
The Academic Support Center @ Daytona State College (Science 116, Page 8 of 9)
Questions
Prepared and Compiled from various sources by
D. Leonard (Learning Specialist)
The Academic Support Center @ Daytona State College
http://www.daytonastate.edu/asc/ascsciencehandouts.html
The Academic Support Center @ Daytona State College (Science 116, Page 9 of 9)