Scientific Method Analysis

Study the flow diagram provided, then contemplate and discuss the questions that follow.

Overview of scientific method.

1. Once you have a problem you would like to study, why is it important to conduct background research before doing anything else?
2. What is the difference between a dependent, independent, and controlled variable and why is it important to identify them?
3. What is the difference between identifying a problem, a hypothesis, and a scientific theory?
4. Why is it important to repeat your experiment if the data fits the hypothesis?

Sample Answers

1. The question may already be answered in the literature, or there may be background research that you can build upon. It is also best to make a hypothesis, prediction and an experiment with as good an understanding of the topic as possible.
2. A controlled variable is one which you keep constant (controlled) so that it does not have an effect between readings. The independent variable is the one you change between collecting data points, while the dependent variable is the variable that changes as a result of a change in the independent variable.
   1. It is important to identify all the variables that you think will have an effect on your investigation.
   2. Firstly think of all the relevant variables you can change.
   3. Secondly think of all the variables you can measure or observe.
   4. Thirdly choose one variable to change (independent variable) which will have an effect on the one variable you can measure or observe (dependent variable).
   5. All the other variables you need to keep constant (fixed/controlled variable).
3. 1. Identifying a problem involves thinking about the world around you and a specific part of it that you don't understand.
   2. A hypothesis is more formal, it is a prediction about that problem based on your current understanding and background research.
   3. A scientific theory comes from an experimentally tested and proven hypothesis. It is repeatable and current data fits the theory.
4. Data may fit a hypothesis in a specific instance. That does not mean that the hypothesis is generally true. It is important to repeat the experiment to make sure that the experiment was not an anomaly. Before something becomes a scientific theory it must be tested repeatedly and be repeatable by different people.