(COC) Scientific Investigations Lesson

Scientific Investigations

What is the Scientific Method

Scientists search for answers to questions and solutions to problems by using a procedure called the scientific method. This procedure consists of making observations, formulating hypotheses, and designing experiments, which in turn lead to additional observations, hypotheses, and experiments in repeated cycles. Chemists expand their knowledge by making observations, carrying out experiments, and testing hypotheses to develop laws to summarize their results and theories to explain them. In doing so, they are using the scientific method.

The scientific method is used by scientists, but also by anyone who wants to understand how the world works or how to solve a problem. In other words, the scientific method is a useful tool for organizing a process to get to the heart of a problem. Watch the following short videos. They will provide an introduction to the scientific method.

VIDEO

Every day you observe a great variety of objects and situations. Over hundreds of years, curiosity has led people to explore and categorize a tremendous amount of information. Generations of people have asked questions and recorded facts. Through the collection of these facts, we now have a set of physical laws that can explain much of what we observe in our day-to-day life.

When we are curious about how something works or how to solve a problem, what is a systematic way to go about looking for answers? The answer would be to use the scientific method. The scientific method can be used to answer any kind of question, both those that are scientific and those that are not. Below is a list of steps that help to organize solving a problem. It is best to think of the scientific method as a flexible process that can be organized into many different steps depending on the specific situation. Look at the various versions of the scientific method below to see the numerous versions of the scientific method.

Steps on scientific method

Determine the Problem/Ask a Question. Make sure only one problem is being studied and that all of the components have been clearly defined. For instance, if my problem is what causes my book to fall quickly off of my desk; I would need to define "fall quickly" as this could mean different things to different people.
Conduct Research/Make Observations. What do you already know about the topic? What observations have you made? What information is currently known on the topic? Examples of places to collect information on a topic include libraries, the Internet, books, magazines, personal interviews, etc.
Make a Hypothesis. This means to make an educated guess as to the outcome of the problem.
Develop a Controlled Experiment. To test the hypothesis.
Collect and Analyze Data. You should record all of your observations. You should not only collect the data to support your hypothesis but all of your observations. You should also try to avoid collecting subjective data like how soft something is or how good something smells.
Form a Conclusion. The conclusion may or may not support the hypothesis. It is important to remember that scientists should be seeking unbiased answers to problems. One should never change the data to support a hypothesis.

It is important to remember that the scientific method is NOT a rigid set of rules, but rather a framework for investigating a problem. The order of steps may be altered as long as they remain in a logical order, and the experiment may certainly be repeated many times before reaching a conclusion.

Example:

Problem: The Internet is not working on my laptop computer.

Conduct Research/Make Observations: Determine if my computer is not working or if it's the Internet. Look for any clues as to why the Internet does not work. For instance, is the PC computer's internet working, are the cords connected to the modem connected properly, is the problem with the modem, etc.

Make a Hypothesis: If the modem is reset, then the Internet will work again on my laptop.

Develop a controlled experiment: The Internet is not working on the PC computer or the laptop therefore I know it is not a problem with the laptop itself. I will test the wiring between the computer and the modem and see that it is wired correctly. I will then reset the modem to see if it will work again.

Form a conclusion: This is only done after the data, from the experiment, has been collected and analyzed.

Applying the Scientific Method:

The Scientific Method can be used to solve any problem, even a problem like how do I make an A in this course? Look at the steps below on how to do it:

Applying the Scientific Method
Steps	Example	Actions Taken
Determine the Problem/Ask a Question.	I need to make an A in this Physical Science Course.	Be sure to define aspects of the problem. For instance, an A = 90% or above.
Conduct Research/Make Observations	What will it take for me to make an A? How have students been successful in the past? How much time should I plan on spending on the course each day? Can I work ahead of schedule?	Talk to the instructor asking for advice on being successful in the course. Develop a plan to have uninterrupted time spent on the course each day Develop an organized method of keeping up with and submitting assignments.
Make a Hypothesis.	If I follow my schedule daily, am organized, and implement the advice of my instructor; then I will make an A in this course.
Develop a Controlled Experiment	Perform an experiment to see if your hypothesis works.	Print out the course calendar schedule. Work daily on assignments Read feedback from my instructor for each assignment submitted Stay organized in saving assignments, keeping a log of what assignments have been submitted, etc.
Collect and Analyze Data	Analyze the results from the first two weeks and make adjustments if necessary.	Review grades
Form a Conclusion.	Do you have an A?	If making an A then continue following the same steps. If making less than an A, determine what adjustments should be made to improve to get an A. (Like attending live chat sessions, asking for additional resources from my instructor for confusing concepts, etc.)

The next time you ask yourself how something works or you wonder why something is the way that it is, try out the scientific method and see what answers you can find out.

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION