The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

Observations and Questions

• All scientific investigation starts with observation, which may give rise to specific questions about the natural world.
• Observations can be made directly (e.g. seeing something occur) or indirectly (e.g. using instruments to measure things we cannot see directly).

Formulating Hypotheses

• A scientist will create a hypothesis to offer a possible explanation for the observations or to test the question.
• A good hypothesis is one that can be tested and is based on existing scientific knowledge.

Predictions and Experiments

• After formulating a hypothesis, a scientist will deduce certain predictions that can be tested by experiments or observations.
• Carefully designed experiments are vital for testing each prediction, and thus the overall hypothesis.

Measurements and Data Analysis

• Measurements made during experiments need to be carefully collected and recorded. These might include quantities (e.g. temperature, time, mass) or may be descriptive (e.g. colour, shape).
• Recorded data is analysed using suitable methods. This data analysis may involve plotting graphs, calculating averages, or performing statistical tests.

Drawing Conclusions

• Once data is analysed, it can then be interpreted to draw conclusions about whether the hypothesis is supported by the data. The hypothesis may either be supported (and tested further) or discarded if the data do not support it.

Evaluation

• Evaluation involves considering the quality of the experiment including the design, methodology and data collected.
• Part of evaluation involves considering potential sources of error or bias, and considering ways to improve the experiment if it were to be repeated.

Communication

• Communication of findings is a vital part of the scientific method. Scientists will share their results and conclusions with others, most often by publishing in scientific journals, where they can be reviewed and scrutinised by other scientists.
• Communication also allows for peer review, where other scientists examine the study to check its soundness, thereby maintaining the integrity of science.

Remember, the Scientific Method is much more than a rigid sequence of steps - it is a dynamic process incorporating a cycle of questions, predictions, testing, analysis and refinements.