Lesson 2: The Scientific Method

What is the Scientific Method? The Scientific Method is a logical and rational order of steps by which scientists come to conclusions about the world around them.

There are six basic steps to the Scientific Method.

Step 1: Purpose What do you want to observe, explore, or learn about? Purpose will often be based on a previous observation.

Step 2: Observation and Research What do you already know? What information can you find through research? Observations and research can give us an idea of what to expect from an experiment.

Step 3: Hypothesis A hypothesis is an educated guess about what will happen. A good hypothesis should be based on prior knowledge, research, and observations.

Step 4: Experiment The experiment should be tied to the stated purpose and should test the hypothesis. A good experiment will determine if the hypothesis is correct or incorrect.

Describing Your Experiment 1. A description of an experiment should include a list of all materials used. 2. Include detailed, step-by-step descriptions of everything that was done during the experiment 3. Using your description of an experiment, someone should be able to exactly duplicate your experiment.

Step 5: Results and Analysis Results describe what happened during the experiment. Analysis attempts to explain the results. Both a detailed description of the results and analysis of those results must always be included!

Step 6: Conclusion The conclusion should tell whether your hypothesis was correct or incorrect. This is your chance to share what you learned from the experiment.

Key Questions In your science journal, reflect on the following questions: 1.What is the Scientific Method? 2.Should you always use all six steps of the Scientific Method? Why or why not? 3.How do you feel that the scientific method will be useful in science class this year?