The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations, and doing experiments (sciencebuddies.com, 2013). It uses observation, question, hypothesis, and prediction to draw a conclusion and communicate the results.

The scientific method activity on the student website gave two scenarios of problems and several ideas on how to solve them, for example there was a car that would not start, and you were given possible reasons. If you were to choose the dead battery scenario it would then prompt you to choose from two possible ways to test this theory. You would need to either test the battery connection or charge the battery. The battery connection was fine, and the battery was not dead. You then would need to start over to test a new theory. The end result being that the car needed new fuses.

Here is an example of using the scientific method, you have misplaced your keys and cannot remember where you left them.

* Observation: your keys are missing.

* Question: Where could you have put them?

* Hypothesis: they may be in my jacket.

* Prediction: if you search your jacket you will find them.

* Conclusion: they were not in the jacket.

* Results: the keys were not found in the jacket so your theory was incorrect, and you would start over with a new hypothesis and prediction.

To form the new hypothesis you would simply try a new theory, such as the keys may be in the couch, and then follow the steps to find the results.

In conclusion, the scientific method is just a more organized way of solving a problem. It helps you look at the details of a situation and rationalize the best way to solve it. Without using the steps of the scientific method you may have spent hours wondering around your house looking for your keys and possibly looking in the same place more than once. This method helps you slow down and think about scenario. This method is a set of procedures that scientists follow in...