The Scientific Method

A procedure used to provide scientific explanations for questions about the world
Outlines the way a scientist can perform an experiment to collect empirical data to answer a question
Involves planning an experiment based on background research to form a hypothesis predicting what may happen

Question: a problem the scientist is looking to solve
Background: information already available from other experiments that can help inform the scientist about the topic
Hypothesis: a proposed explanation that can be empirically tested
Experiment: a scientific test that provides empirical data for a specific hypothesis
Empirical Data: information that is verifiable by observation and/or experience
Conclusion: an answer to the research question as suggested by the data, which may support or reject the hypothesis

Has evolved and changed over the years
Was used unofficially since ancient times
First documented by Sir Francis Bacon in 1620, but others like Aristotle, Galileo, and Ibn al-Haytham also contributed to its development
Isaac Newton refined the process in the late 1600s, emphasizing inductive and deductive reasoning

The scientific method steps follow the same general pattern, but there is some variation between disciplines
Psychologists, physicists, geologists, and others may use different methods depending on what they are studying
Even within a discipline, there can be variation depending on the specific research question and experimental design

Ask a Question: making an observation and asking a question about it
Conduct Background Research: researching existing knowledge about the topic of investigation
Formulate a Hypothesis: making an educated prediction to answer the question
Design and Conduct an Experiment: designing an experiment to test the hypothesis
Analyze the Data: analyzing the data to determine if any differences are significant
Draw a Conclusion: determining whether the data supports or rejects the proposed hypothesis

Dwayne's internet not working: using the scientific method to troubleshoot the problem
Alzheimer's Disease and coffee consumption: using the scientific method to test a hypothesis about the cause of the disease

Hypotheses are rarely proven in science, and scientists must leave room for error and the possibility that future discoveries will prove them wrong
Once a hypothesis has been supported by a significant amount of peer-reviewed experiments, it can be promoted to become a theory
A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation for the natural world that brings together facts and hypotheses and is strongly supported by empirical research

Bias becomes a problem when scientists allow their beliefs to filter their data
The scientific method is designed to avoid bias, but it is not perfect
Biases can lead to serious problems in the accuracy and trustworthiness of an experiment's results
Peer review and repeat testing can help flag and correct biases before an experiment's data is published or accepted as valid

A procedure used to provide scientific explanations for questions about the world
Outlines the way a scientist can perform an experiment to collect empirical data to answer a question
Involves planning an experiment based on background research to form a hypothesis predicting what may happen

Question: a problem the scientist is looking to solve
Background: information already available from other experiments that can help inform the scientist about the topic
Hypothesis: a proposed explanation that can be empirically tested
Experiment: a scientific test that provides empirical data for a specific hypothesis
Empirical Data: information that is verifiable by observation and/or experience
Conclusion: an answer to the research question as suggested by the data, which may support or reject the hypothesis

Has evolved and changed over the years
Was used unofficially since ancient times
First documented by Sir Francis Bacon in 1620, but others like Aristotle, Galileo, and Ibn al-Haytham also contributed to its development
Isaac Newton refined the process in the late 1600s, emphasizing inductive and deductive reasoning

The scientific method steps follow the same general pattern, but there is some variation between disciplines
Psychologists, physicists, geologists, and others may use different methods depending on what they are studying
Even within a discipline, there can be variation depending on the specific research question and experimental design

Ask a Question: making an observation and asking a question about it
Conduct Background Research: researching existing knowledge about the topic of investigation
Formulate a Hypothesis: making an educated prediction to answer the question
Design and Conduct an Experiment: designing an experiment to test the hypothesis
Analyze the Data: analyzing the data to determine if any differences are significant
Draw a Conclusion: determining whether the data supports or rejects the proposed hypothesis

Dwayne's internet not working: using the scientific method to troubleshoot the problem
Alzheimer's Disease and coffee consumption: using the scientific method to test a hypothesis about the cause of the disease

Hypotheses are rarely proven in science, and scientists must leave room for error and the possibility that future discoveries will prove them wrong
Once a hypothesis has been supported by a significant amount of peer-reviewed experiments, it can be promoted to become a theory
A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation for the natural world that brings together facts and hypotheses and is strongly supported by empirical research

Bias becomes a problem when scientists allow their beliefs to filter their data
The scientific method is designed to avoid bias, but it is not perfect
Biases can lead to serious problems in the accuracy and trustworthiness of an experiment's results
Peer review and repeat testing can help flag and correct biases before an experiment's data is published or accepted as valid