Scientific Method Flashcards
is a series of processes that people can use to gather knowledge about the world around them, improve that knowledge, and, through gaining knowledge, attempt to explain why and/or how things occur. This method involves
making observations, forming questions, making hypothesis, doing an experiment, analyzing the data, and forming a conclusion.
Scientific Method
Six Steps of Scientific Method
In order
- Making an Observation
- Asking a Question
- Forming a Hypothesis
- Performing an Experiment
- Data Analysis
- Forming a Conclusion
Before hypothesis can be made or experiments can be done, one must first notice and think about some sort of phenomena occurring. The scientific method is used when one does not know why/how something is occurring and wants to uncover the answer, but before one can even question an occurrence, they must notice something puzzling in the first place.
Six Steps of Scientific Method
Making an Observation
One must ask a question based on their observations, such as: why/how is this thing occurring? Why/how does it happen this way? Sometimes this step is listed first in the scientific method, with making an observation (and researching the phenomena in question) listed as second.
Six Steps of Scientific Method
Asking a Question
A hypothesis is an educated guess to explain the phenomena occurring based on prior observations. It answers the question posed in the previous step. Hypotheses can be specific or more general depending on the question being asked, but all hypothesis must be testable by gathering evidence that can be measured.
Six Steps of Scientific Method
Forming a Hypothesis
after performing an experiment, collect all your gathered data and study what trends or what is being observed base on the data collected.
Six Steps of Scientific Method
Data Analysis
It must have an independent variable, which is something that is manipulated by the person doing the experiment, and a dependent variable, which is the thing being measured (and which may be affected by the independent variable).
Six Steps of Scientific Method
Performing an Experiment
If the data support the hypothesis, then the hypothesis may be the explanation for the phenomena.
Six Steps of Scientific Method
Forming a Conclusion
