What is the Scientific Method?

Will a ping-pong ball float or sink in liquids? How would you find an answer to this question? What steps would you use to solve this problem or answer this question? Look at the question, “Will an egg float in tap water or salt water?” How would you find an answer to this question? What are some steps or things that you would use to answer this question?”

Sometimes we will not have an answer or solution….we must find one. In the real world and in science, we are given problems to solve and questions to answer. Sometimes we will not have an answer or solution….we must find one. In the real world and in science, we are given problems to solve and questions to answer everyday. There are times that we will not have an immediate answer to the problem or question. We will have to find out the solution.

These steps are called the Scientific Method. To help us find a reliable and true solution or answer, we must follow certain steps. These steps are called the Scientific Method. In order to find a solution or answer that is true and reliable (meaning we can trust the answer), we must follow a certain set of steps called the Scientific Method.

The Scientific Method is a process that helps us analyze a problem and find a solution. The Scientific Method is a process that helps us analyze or look closely at a problem so that we can find an answer or solution.

The Scientific Method 1. Ask a Question or State the Problem Without a question to answer or a problem to solve, we cannot conduct an experiment to find a solution. Sometimes we will have to ask our own questions based on observations and other times we will be given a question or problem to solve. Here are the steps in the Scientific Method. The first step is to ask a question or state the problem. Without a question to answer or a problem to solve we cannot conduct an experiment to find a solution or answer. Sometimes we will have to ask our own questions based on our observations and personal experiences and other times we will be given a question or problem to solve.

The Scientific Method 2. Develop a Hypothesis A hypothesis is a possible explanation or answer to a scientific question or problem. After we ask or are given a problem, we develop a possible explanation or question. A hypothesis must be testable. This means that we must be able to conduct an experiment to determine if our hypothesis is correct or not. We must test our hypothesis multiple times. Hypotheses must be written in the form: “I hypothesize that ……” The second step is to Develop a Hypothesis. A hypothesis is a possible explanation or answer to a scientific question or problem. After we ask or are given a problem, we develop a possible explanation or question. A hypothesis must be testable. This means that we must be able to conduct an experiment to determine if our hypothesis is correct or not. We must test our hypothesis multiple times. Hypotheses must be written in the form “I hypothesize that….”

The Scientific Method 3. Conduct an Experiment We perform our experiment to test our hypothesis multiple times. It is important that each time, we perform the experiment the same way. Step 3 is to Conduct an Experiment. We perform our experiment to test our hypothesis multiple times. It is important that each time, we perform the experiment the same way.

The Scientific Method 4. Collect and Analyze Data During the experiment we collect data and analyze it so we can make appropriate conclusions. We often collect data in the form of a table and then graph the results so we can share our findings. The fourth step is the Collect and Analyze Data. During the experiment we collect data and analyze it so we can make appropriate conclusions. We often collect data in the form of a table and then graph the results so we can share our findings.

The Scientific Method 5. State your Conclusion A conclusion is a summary of what you have learned from the experiment. The conclusion is a detailed answer to your question or problem. The conclusion is written in the form: “My hypothesis was…..because….” The last step in the Scientific Method is to State your Conclusion. A conclusion is a sumary of what you have learned from the experiment. The conclusion is a detailed answer to your question or problem. The conclusion is written in the form “My hypothesis was….because…”

All 5 steps in the Scientific Method work together. We cannot skip a step if we want to find a solution! It is important to remember that all 5 steps work together. We cannot skip a step or only complete some of them.

Ask a Question or State the Problem Develop a Hypothesis Conduct an Experiment Collect and Analyze Data State your Hypothesis A good way to think about the Scientific Method is like a cycle or a circle. All 5 steps in the circle work together. Before we can move on to the next step, we must complete the step before. (Model how the circle works)