The scientific method is a term that is often used in science textbooks, science labs and science courses. In many science courses it is one of the first concepts that is covered. What is it that makes something a scientific method? The scientific method was created so that a process could be in place for scientists to be able to replicable results of an experiment. The scientific method works best on normal experience scales for phenomena that is observable and measurable. The scientific method varies in specificity and the number of steps. This writing will address the general steps of the scientific method. The first step is to formulate a question. The next step is restating the question into a hypothesis and offering an educated guess for what the answer is most likely to be. A hypothesis is written in such a way that it can be shown to be incorrect or shows that the hypothesis is supported. A hypothesis can be supported but it is not an absolute truth when it is supported since there is always new data and new knowledge that can come along that is superior to the current knowledge (i.e. Einstein’s physics mirroring reality more closely than Newton’s physics). The third step is to create an experiment or test that can be used to either support or not support the hypothesis. This is the step that requires the most thought and detail. There are many problems, unaccounted for information and biases that can result if the experiment or test is not set up correctly. There are many detailed steps and variables to consider when developing the experiment. The fourth step is to run the test or experiment and observe and record data from it. Next for the fifth step, once the observations or made and data analyzed then the hypothesis can either be supported or not supported. Finally, conclusions can be drawn from the experiment. The experiment or test should be able to be replicated by others so that others can try to get the same results. |