EXPLORING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

EnvironMentorsUniversity ChapterNovember 16, 2011

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

Why we need it: To construct an accurate representation of the

world that is reliable, consistent, and non-arbitrary

Who uses it: Scientists, Engineers, and many other

professionals, sharing information collectively

When should we use it: Over time, as an ongoing process

Source: http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/appendixe/appendixe.html

THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

1. Identify a problem/ask a question

2. Conduct background research

3. Form a hypothesis

4. Design an experiment

5. Collect and analyze data

6. Draw a conclusion

7. Communicate your results

#1 IDENTIFY A PROBLEM/ ASK A QUESTION

Think of a topic that interests you or a problem you’d like to address

EXAMPLE: I’m interested in water quality. I’ve noticed that the river that flows through my community is very murky and looks dirty.

Now think of a question that: Starts with how, what, who, which, why, or where Is measurable (numerically and objectively)

EXAMPLE: Which sections of the river are brown and which are clear?What causes certain sections of the river to be brown?

GROUP ACTIVITY: ASKING A QUESTION

How can we ask a scientific question (specific, clear, and concise) about these interests or problems?

A. I like listening to music on an iPod. When I got a new iPod for my birthday I didn’t know how to get rid of the old one that I didn’t use anymore.

B. It’s very noisy outside my school and it distracts me from doing my school work.

#2 CONDUCT BACKGROUND RESEARCH

Where can we go to get information?

Mentor’s university library High school or public library Internet* Experts in the field Your mentor

What types of information can we get?

Scholarly articles Books Newspaper articles Interview notes

GROUP ACTIVITY: BACKGROUND RESEARCH

What information might we want to know before we could test this question?

A. Which sections of the river that flows through my community are brown and which are clear?

#3 FORM A HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis: An educated guess about the answer to your question

A good hypothesis will:

Identify the variable that you will be changing in your experiment (independent)

Identify the variable whose changes you will observe (dependent)

EXAMPLE: If the independent variable is changed in a certain way, the dependent variable will change in a predictable manner.

#4 DESIGN AN EXPERIMENT Write a list of the materials and tools you

will need Be specific – like the ingredients in a recipe You wouldn’t be able to bake a cake if the list

only said “flour, sugar, eggs” without exact amounts!

Write out your procedure step by step Someone else should be able to repeat it,

exactly, if they picked up your notes

Make sure you: Change only one factor (variable) at a time Repeat the experiment multiple times (at

least 3) to be sure results aren’t just an accident

#5 COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA

Change only your independent variable, and keep all others constant If you’re comparing water quality at

two different places along a river, don’t change date, time of day, weather conditions, or other variables.

Make sure you run your experiment at least 3 times to collect 3 sets of data to compare.

Calculate the mean, median, and mode and other relevant information from your 3 (or more) data sets.

#6 DRAW A CONCLUSION

Analyze whether your data prove or disprove your hypothesis Remember, if your data disprove

your hypothesis it’s still an important finding!

Sometimes the most exciting time to be a scientist is when your data show something unexpected.

Find other ways to test your results and new questions you might have

#7 COMMUNICATE YOUR RESULTS

Find the most practical way to display your data

Use clear objective language

Avoid use of the first person

Use active voice whenever possible

Use visual and auditory aids whenever possible

SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND YOUR FUTURE!

EnvironMentors Scientific CareersEngineers, Physicist, Medical Professionals,

Chemist, Veterinarians, Pharmacist, and more!

Environmental CareersMarine Biologist, Natural Science Manger,

Environmental Scientist, Hydrologist, Meteorologist,

Park Ranger, Soil Scientist, and more!

Other Careers that use ScienceTeacher, Lawyer, Political Scientist, Psychologist,

Anthropologist, and more!