Scientific Method

Scientific Method

The scientific method is the basic skill process in the world of science. Since the beginning of time humans have been curious as to why and how things happen in the world around us. The scientific method provides scientists with a well structured scientific platform to help find the answers to their questions.

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Using the scientific method there is no limit as to what we can investigate. The scientific method can be summarised as follows:

1. Ask a question about the world around you.
2. Do background research on your questions.
3. Make a hypothesis about the event that gives a sensible result. You must be able to test your hypothesis through experiment.
4. Design an experiment to test the hypothesis. These methods must be repeatable and follow a logical approach.
5. Collect data accurately and interpret the data.You must be able to take measurements, collect information, and present your data in a useful format (drawings, explanations, tables and graphs).
6. Draw conclusions from the results of the experiment. Your observations must be made objectively, never force the data to fit your hypothesis.
7. Decide whether your hypothesis explains the data collected accurately.
8. If the data fits your hypothesis, verify your results by repeating the experiment or getting someone else to repeat the experiment.
9. If your data does not fit your hypothesis perform more background research and make a new hypothesis.

Remember that in the development of both the gravitational theory and thermodynamics, scientists expanded on information from their predecessors or peers when developing their own theories. It is therefore very important to communicate findings to the public in the form of scientific publications, at conferences, in articles or TV or radio programmes. It is important to present your experimental data in a specific format, so that others can read your work, understand it, and repeat the experiment.

1. Aim: A brief sentence describing the purpose of the experiment.
2. Apparatus: A list of the apparatus.
3. Method: A list of the steps followed to carry out the experiment.
4. Results: Tables, graphs and observations about the experiment.
5. Discussion: What your results mean.
6. Conclusion: A brief sentence concluding whether or not the aim was met.

Hypothesis

A hypothesis should be specific and should relate directly to the question you are asking. For example if your question about the world was, why do rainbows form, your hypothesis could be: Rainbows form because of light shining through water droplets. After formulating a hypothesis, it needs to be tested through experiment. An incorrect prediction does not mean that you have failed. It means that the experiment has brought some new facts to light that you might not have thought of before.