What is the Scientific Method?

The scientific method refers to group of steps that investigate phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, changing or correcting prior knowledge. The scientific method is used by all scientists all around the world. It’s a way for researchers to find cause and effect in experiments. The first step to the scientific method is asking a question. This process is the reason for the experiment or discovery. It usually involves who, what, when, where. Which the whole process of the scientific method will be nearly based off. The second step in the scientific method is do background research on the question. This helps find other scientists data and experiments performed to help you with yours or even to point out an error. This will also help with not starting from zero which will save you time. The 3rd step is creating a hypothesis. Hypothesis is a prediction based on what you researched. This will allow you to build a logical guess and come back to it. It usually looks like “If I do this this will happen”.(1) The fourth step is test with an experiment. This is where the data is manufactured from. This is where the hypothesis is tested as true or false. It is important though that all experiments are conducted evenly and fairly.(1) The fifth step is to collect your measurements and analyze them to see if your hypothesis is true or false. Many scientists will often find that there hypothesis is false. They will then either retry or construct another hypothesis. However very few will get there hypothesis correct In that case they will likely try the test again to insure the data was correct.(1) Report your results. This is the process where you let the scientific community read your data and findings. Many times after this people will base other experiments or try new ones to advance knowledge.

Why is the scientific method important? Well its important because the realm of life can be impacted by it. If we didn’t have an outlined plan for finding answers to problems we would have a world of unknown. I say this because many people would lie or have insufficient data and come out with reports. As “listeners” we would take their advice and believe it. So the scientific is a standard that sets bars so the truth comes out. In the end if we didn’t research or report right, many things would be different in the realm of science, technology and exploration.

1.)
“Steps of Scientific Method.” Science Buddies. Motorolla, n.d. Web. 10 Sep 2011. <http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/aboutus_sponsors.shtml>.