Scientific Method Steps
As more proof that there is no one way to "do" science, different sources describe the steps of the scientific method in different ways. Some list three steps, some four and some five. Fundamentally, however, they incorporate the same concepts and principles.
Image courtesy William Harris
For our purposes, we're going to say that there are five key steps in the method.
Step 1: Make an observation
Almost all scientific inquiry begins with an observation that piques curiosity or raises a question. For example, when Charles Darwin (1809-1882) visited the Galapagos Islands (located in the Pacific Ocean, 950 kilometers west of Ecuador), he observed several species of finches, each uniquely adapted to a very specific habitat. In particular, the beaks of the finches were quite variable and seemed to play important roles in how the birds obtained food. These birds captivated Darwin. He wanted to understand the forces that allowed so many different varieties of finch to coexist successfully in such a small geographic area. His observations caused him to wonder, and his wonderment led him to ask a question that could be tested.
Step 2: Ask a question
The purpose of the question is to narrow the focus of the inquiry, to identify the problem in specific terms. The question Darwin might have asked after seeing so many different finches was something like this: What caused the diversification of finches on the Galapagos Islands?
Here are some other scientific questions:
Coming up with scientific questions isn't difficult and doesn't require training as a scientist. If you've ever been curious about something, if you've ever wanted to know what caused something to happen, then you've probably already asked a question that could launch a scientific investigation.
Step 3: Formulate a hypothesis
The great thing about a question is that it yearns for an answer, and the next step in the scientific method is to suggest a possible answer in the form of a hypothesis. A hypothesis is often defined as an educated guess because it is almost always informed by what you already know about a topic. For example, if you wanted to study the air-resistance problem stated above, you might already have an intuitive sense that a car shaped like a bird would reduce air resistance more effectively than a car shaped like a box. You could use that intuition to help formulate your hypothesis.
Generally, a hypothesis is stated as an "if … then" statement. In making such a statement, scientists engage in deductive reasoning, which is the opposite of inductive reasoning. Deduction requires movement in logic from the general to the specific. Here's an example: If a car's body profile is related to the amount of air resistance it produces (general statement), then a car designed like the body of a bird will be more aerodynamic and reduce air resistance more than a car designed like a box (specific statement).
Notice that there are two important qualities about a hypothesis expressed as an "if … then" statement. First, it is testable; an experiment could be set up to test the validity of the statement. Second, it is falsifiable; an experiment could be devised that might reveal that such an idea is not true. If these two qualities are not met, then the question being asked cannot be addressed using the scientific method.
Here is a short hand way to remember the steps in using the scientific method:
1. Make an observation.
2. Ask a question.
3. Make a hypothesis.
4. Conduct an experiment.
5. Draw conclusions.
6. Share your results.
7. Do other experiments done by others agree?
8. Yes or no?
9. if no, do again.
ang steps sa scientific method ai
enumerate the steps of scientific method
Scientific method steps: -Purpose -Research -Hypothesis -Experiment -Analysis -Conclution
you might need to complete the steps of the scientific method in a specific orderso you dont get the wrong answer.
Scientists often repeat one or more steps several times
ang steps sa scientific method ai
The correct steps for the scientific method are: Observation Hypothesis Theory Scientific Law
enumerate the steps of scientific method
Scientific method steps: -Purpose -Research -Hypothesis -Experiment -Analysis -Conclution
The correct steps for the scientific method are: Observation Hypothesis Theory Scientific Law
What is a series of carefully planned steps that test a hypothesis?
hypothesis
scientific method
The steps in an experiment are called the Scientific Method.
you might need to complete the steps of the scientific method in a specific orderso you dont get the wrong answer.
Scientists often repeat one or more steps several times
Steps of the scientific method are much like a recipe. Take, for example, a cake. When you do the steps in the correct order, you get a clean and proper result (a delicious cake!). When done in the incorrect order, however, the end result could be disastrous. If you were to approach the scientific method with the incorrect order of steps, the end result, like the cake, could be completely wrong, thus rendering all your hard work useless.