Scientific Method

How can we determine if something is a fact or an opinion? How can we determine an answer to a problem? The answer is use the scientific method.

What is the Scientific Method? It is a series of steps used to help solve a problem.

·       Step 1. Define the problem. Make sure only one problem is being studied.

·       Step 2. Research the problem. Use all available resources to collect data on the subject being covered. Libraries, Internet, books, magazines, personal interviews, etc.

·       Step 3. Develop a hypothesis (educated guess). Make it a short definitive statement. It should be an "if, then" statement. The “if” part will become the hypothesis and the “then” part should be the results received at the end of the controlled experiment. Remember your hypothesis can be changed it is not formed in concrete.

·       Step 4. Develop a controlled experiment. A controlled experiment is an experiment that contains only one experimental variable. An experimental variable is the thing being tested.

·       The independent variable is that which may be altered by the researcher.

·       The dependent variable is that which changes in response to the independent variable

Everything else in the experiment or all other variables, must be the same. These variables are also called the controlled variables. Keeping these variables the same allows the experimenter to show that it was the experimental variable that caused the results.

·         Step 5.  Collect the data.  The data may describe the quality (qualitative) or measure the quantity (quantitative).

·         Step 6.  Analyze the data (Discussion), perhaps coming to a conclusion. The conclusion may or may not support the hypothesis. Additional experimentation must then take place to build documentation concerning the problem. If the hypothesis is proven wrong, change the hypothesis, not the data.

·         Step 7. Repeatability.  Others should be able to replicate similar results if your procedure is duplicated.  This is often called the “hallmark of science.”

·         Step 8. Share with others.  While students may share in the form of laboratory reports, professional scientists may share in the form of journal articles published in professional journals, such as Science or the Journal of the American Medical Association.  The latter allows other scientists to review the work (peer review) as the work goes through the acceptance, review, and publication process.

Example:

Problem: Is Raid the best insecticide on the market?

Research the problem: Look up information on all insecticides.

Make a Hypothesis: Raid is the best insecticide on the market. If used it will kill insects 30% faster then other insecticides. This educated guess was determine by the experimenter based on the research done prior to making this statement.

Develop a controlled experiment:

Spray 5 separate plates with equal amounts of different insecticides. Cover each one with the same type and size glass. Add equal amounts of the same type of insects to each glass. Place them side by side and time the results.

Form a conclusion: This is only done after the data , from the experiment , has been collected and analyzed.