The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a series of steps that allows you to investigate an area of science in an orderly manner.

1. Think of an Idea.

What area of science would you like to know more about? What is a question you have had about a science topic?

2. Research your topic.

Read books, magazine articles, pamphlets, brochures, or any other information concerning your idea. You may also need to or want to talk to an “expert” about your topic. Make sure that your information is correct.

3. Ask a question.

Your question should be very specific about your chosen area of interest. The question should be “open- ended”, which is answered with a statement, not just a yes or a no.

Example: "How does light affect the reproduction of bread mold on white bread?"

Do limit your problem. Note that the previous question is about one life process of molds—reproduction; one type of mold—bread mold; one type of bread—white bread; and one factor that affects its growth—light.

To find the answer to a question such as "How does light affect molds?" would require that you test different life processes and an extensive variety of molds.

Do choose a problem that can be solved experimentally. For example, the question "What is a mold?" can be answered by finding the definition of the word mold in the dictionary. But, "At room temperature, what is the growth rate of bread mold on white bread?" is a question that can be answered by experimentation.

4. Develop a hypothesis.

A hypothesis is an idea about the solution to a problem, based on knowledge and research. The hypothesis should make a claim about how two factors relate. For example, in the following sample hypothesis, the two relating factors are light and bread mold growth. Here is one example of a hypothesis for the earlier problem question:

"I believe that bread mold does not need light for reproduction on white bread. I base my hypothesis on this fact:

• Organisms with chlorophyll need light to survive. Molds do not have chlorophyll.

Do state facts from past experiences or observations on which you base your hypothesis.

Do write down your hypothesis before beginning the project experimentation.

Don't change your hypothesis even if experimentation does not support it. If time permits, repeat or redesign the experiment to confirm your results.

5. Plan and Conduct your experiments.

All of your project experimenting will be performed to test the hypothesis.

When doing the experiment, it must be a controlled experiment . The scientist must use an “experimental group” with a “control group”. The two groups are treated EXACTLY alike except for the ONE variable being tested.

When doing an experiment, replication is important. Everything should be tried several times on several subjects. For example, in the bread experiment, you would need at least three pieces of bread in the control group and each of the experimental groups, while a “real” researcher would probably have several dozen. If you had only one piece of bread and some one came by added water to the bread there would be no way of determining if the mold growth or lack of mold growth was effected by the water or the light.

6. Keep records of what you do, how you do it, and what happens.

Scientists should always keep excellent records of everything they do during an experiment. Keep a notebook and write down the date, the time, what you do, what materials you use, and/or what you measure or observe.

This will help you keep a summary of what you did in case something goes wrong and you need to start the experiment over, but it is also important to be able to show other students exactly how the experiment was carried out. Someone else should be able to pick up your notebook and carry out the exact same experiment simply by following your records.

You will gather actual, data from the experiments. For example, it's not enough to say, “Mold grew on the bread.” Rather, in this experiment, you might have scale or rating system defined in your notebook to be able to say the mold covered the entire piece of bread = 5 or you may choose to draw or measure the mold that you see. Data for each of the 3 pieces of bread are then averaged and compared statistically.

7. Examine the results.

After you have conducted your experiment(s) and collected data you should look at what all the information tells you. What facts, numbers or statistics were produced as a result of the experiment(s)? Did the mold need light to grow on the bread?? What facts or numbers do you have to support that?

8. Form a conclusion.

The conclusion is a summary of the results of your experimentation and a statement of how the results relate to the hypothesis. It should provide some answer to your original question. Reasons for experimental results that are different then what the hypothesis predicted are included. If applicable, the conclusion can end by giving ideas for further testing.

Do talk about what you learned

Do suggest improvements in the experiment

Do explain the importance of the experiment.

If your results do not support your hypothesis:

DON'T change your hypothesis.

DON'T leave out experimental results that do not support your hypothesis.

Do give possible reasons for the difference between your hypothesis and the experimental results.

Do give ways that you can experiment further to find a solution.