Scientific Method

The "Design and Experiment" assignment will require you to use the scientific method. The scientific method is the established way that scientists learn more about the universe. The scientific method consists of five parts:

1. Observation & Research Question

Scientists first observe phenomenon within their environment. Observations can be obvious such as the sky being blue, or they can be difficult to see like the processes behind photosynthesis. Scientists develop a research question to answer in an experiment, which is based on their observations.

2. Hypothesis

Based on the observations, scientists suggest the cause behind a phenomenon. Hypothesizes are more than guesses, because guesses don't require observation. A hypothesis is an educated guess, a prediction based on their observations. In an experiment, scientists develop a hypothesis to their research question. It is this hypothesis that they will test in an experiment. Here is an example: a scientist observes that chemicals are being dumped into a lake and that fish are dying. The scientist could develop a hypothesis to test in a laboratory experiment: An increase in chemicals in the water is killing the fish.

3. Experimentation

Scientists design an experiment that will test the prediction. Using the chemical and fish example, scientists might place fish in different tanks. Each tank would have different amounts of the chemical, including one that has the same amount of the lake. The scientists would also want a tank with no chemical to see if something is wrong with the fish.
It is important that scientists are careful how they set up their experiments. If the experiment is set up wrong, scientists may come to the incorrect conclusion.

4. Analysis

Scientists take the data recorded from their experiment and analyze it to determine what it means. Often, this step involves organizing the data into a spreadsheet or graph.

5. Conclusion & Revision

After scientists collect and analyze the data, they need to decide if the data supports their hypothesis. If the hypothesis was wrong, and the fish did survive with the chemical, then they need to determine what about the hypothesis might be wrong, and try the experiment again. If the hypothesis was correct, then what other predictions or hypotheses could be made? The whole process starts again once a new hypothesis is formed.