The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method

• The scientific method is a procedure used to provide scientific explanations for questions about the world.
• It outlines the way a scientist can perform an experiment to collect empirical data, which can be used to answer a question.

Key Terms

• Question: a problem the scientist is looking to solve
• Background: information that is 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

History of the Scientific Method

• The scientific method has evolved and changed over the years.
• Sir Francis Bacon is credited with its first documentation in 1620.
• Other notable contributors to the development of the scientific method include Aristotle, Galileo, Ibn al-Haytham, and Isaac Newton.

Variations in Different Disciplines

• The scientific method steps follow the same general pattern, but there is some variation between the methods used in different disciplines, such as psychology, physics, and geology.
• Each discipline may require different methods and tools to study their specific topic.

The Six Steps of the Scientific Method

• Ask a Question: make an observation and ask a question about it
• Conduct Background Research: research existing knowledge about the topic
• Formulate a Hypothesis: propose an explanation that can be empirically tested
• Design and Conduct an Experiment: test the hypothesis using empirical data
• Analyze the Data: determine if the data supports or rejects the hypothesis
• Draw a Conclusion: answer the research question based on the data

Scientific Method Steps in Order

• The scientific method has an order, but it often gets modified and re-worked along the way.

Example of the Scientific Method

• Dwayne's internet is not working: a simple example of the scientific method in everyday life
• Is Alzheimer's Disease caused by daily coffee consumption?: an example of the scientific method in a scientific study

The Formation of a Scientific Theory

• Hypotheses are rarely proven in science; instead, they are supported or rejected through experimentation.
• Once a hypothesis has been supported by a significant amount of peer-reviewed experiments, it can become a theory.
• A scientific theory is a well-supported explanation for the natural world that brings together facts and hypotheses.

Scientific Method: Beliefs and Biases

• Bias can become 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 impact the way data is interpreted and lead to inaccurate results.
• Peer review and repeat testing are used to flag and correct errors caused by bias.