IES: Lesson - The Scientific Method šŸ“–

ā³ Estimated Reading Time: 3 - 5 minutes

Learning Objective

In this lesson, you will learn how to do science following the steps of the scientific method.

 

The Scientific Method

Diagram explains the scientific method: Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Analyze, Conclusion.
The scientific method can be thought of as a cycle, starting with observing the world around you. After analyzing your data and drawing conclusions, you may need to restart the cycle.

The scientific method is a universally embraced process used by scientists, regardless of their location or field of study. It serves as the foundation for scientific investigations and helps researchers systematically explore the natural world. By adhering to the scientific method, scientists gather reliable data to draw conclusions that enhance our comprehension of the world around us.

There are 6 steps in the scientific method:

  1. Make an Observation
  2. Ask a Question
  3. Develop a Hypothesis
  4. Conduct an Experiment
  5. Analyze your data
  6. Draw Conclusions

 

Explore the steps of the scientific method below. As you read through the steps, think about what you could choose for your capstone project.

As your idea or hypothesis gains support and validation from the scientific community, it paves the way for the development of a theory. This theory serves as an overarching explanation that harmonizes and interprets the observations you made in your experiment, adding valuable knowledge to the collective understanding of our world. Science is an ever-evolving journey, and your contributions can be instrumental in advancing our comprehension of the world around us.

 

Essential Knowledge

A well-structured hypothesis will take the following format: "If I change the (independent variable), then the (dependent variable) will change."

In a controlled experiment, only one variable is changed, which is known as the independent variable.

QuaNtitative data is Numerical data and quaLITative data is observational data.

Your data either supports or rejects your hypothesis, it does not "prove" anything.

 

Check for Understanding

 

[CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Links to an external site.] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION - INTENDED ONLY FOR USE WITHIN LESSON.