Observe phenomenon
Collect information
Make observations
Ask questions
Use prior knowledge
Review related research
Form hypothesis
Design experiment to test
hypothesis
Conduct experiment and record data
Compare
Actual results
Repeat experiment until
consistent results
Expected results
Refine and test
different hypothesis
Draw conclusion
Hypothesis supported
Hypothesis not supported
Report results of experiment
Compare results from similar experiments
Accept hypothesis
Leads to
Additional experimentation
Supp. Info. Fig. 1. Figure used to illustrate scientific methodology in ES: Geology, the
Environment, and the Universe (Borrero et al., 2008, p. 11). Caption for original figure was
“Scientific methods are used by scientists to help organize and plan their experiments and
investigations. This flow chart outlines some of the methods commonly used by scientists.”
Adapted from “Earth Science: Geology, the Environment, and the Universe,” by F. Borrero, F. S.
Hess, J. Hsu, G. Kunze, S. A. Leslie, S. Letro,… National Geographic, 2008, New York.
Copyright 2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Ask Questions
Form a hypothesis
Make observations
Test your hypothesis
Analyze results
Draw conclusions
Hypothesis supported?
Revise/retest
hypothesis or theory
No
Yes
No
Publish
Are others able to
confirm your results?
Yes
Construct a theory
Supp. Info. Fig. 2. Figure used to illustrate scientific methodology in Holt Chemistry (Myers et
al., 2006, p. 46). Caption for original figure was “Each state of the scientific method represents a
number of different activities. Scientists choose the activities to use depending on the nature of
their investigation.” Adapted from “Holt Chemistry,” by R. T. Myers, K. B. Oldham, and S.
Tocci, 2006, Orlando, FL. Copyright 2006 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Make observations
Develop a hypothesis
Conduct an experiment
Collect the data
Analyze the results
Hypothesis is supported
Hypothesis is not supported
Supp. Info. Fig. 3. Figure included in chapter 5 standardized test in Glencoe Biology (Biggs et
al., 2009, p. 143). Adapted from “Glencoe Biology,” by A. Biggs, W. C. Hagins, W. G. Holliday,
C. L. Kapicka, L. Lundgren, A. H. MacKenzie,… National Geographic, 2009, New York.
Copyright 2009 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.




Observations
Existing knowledge
Qualitative data
Quantitative data
Hypothesis
Testable statement
or prediction
Experiments
Revised hypothesis
Conclusions
Theory
Revised theory

Scientific Law
Summary of accepted
facts of nature
Experiments

Theory
Hypothesis supported
by many experiments
Supp. Info. Fig. 4. Figure used to illustrate scientific methodology in the study guide for chapter
1 in Chemistry: Matter and Change (Buthelezi et al., 2008, p. 25). Adapted from “Chemistry:
Matter and Change,” by T. Buthelezi, L. Dingrando, N. Hainen, C. Wistrom, and D. Zike, 2008,
New York. Copyright 2008 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Supp. Info. Fig. 5. Figure from Understanding Science illustrating scientific methodology
(University of California Museum of Paleontology [http://undsci.berkeley.edu/], 2009). Used
with permission.