Solving problems with the 
Scientific Method

Great thoughts
reduced to practice
 become great acts
William Hazlitt
English 1778-1830

Observe  *  Research   *  Hypothesize  *  Test  *  Conclude

The scientific method is a process
for forming and testing solutions to problems, or theorizing about how or why things work.  It tries to reduce the influence of "faith" or bias or prejudice of the experimenter so that the process is valid anywhere in our world.

You can also use the scientific method to solve
everyday problems!  If the lights are out in your residence, you can guess many reasons why:  you didn't pay your electric bill, there was storm that knocked out power, the toaster and microwave overloaded a circuit, etc.  

• Look for the options or possibilities (research), 

• select the best explanation (form a hypothesis), 

• test it, and 

• form a conclusion or theory.  

If you think toaster and microwave were the answer, you can repeat this condition, and predict the outcome (experiment or test your theory).  If not paying your bill was the problem, you can repeat that also, but it can be expensive and inconvenient!

The Scientific Method

State the problem and observe conditions

You observe or wonder about something in your world, or in your class, and wonder how, why, when, something occurs

• Create a short, meaningful title 
  of your project

• Write out a statement of purpose  
  that describes what you want to do

• Make a careful, step-by-step notation  
  of your observations.  Be objective!  and do not guess why something is happening.  That takes place later

• Gather information of similar research.  
  This is a literature review

• Identify significant conditions  
  or factors of the situation

• Summarize the problem  
  in a clear, simple statement.  Emphasize the end result or effect.

Form your hypothesis

• Research options:

  • What are possible causes for what you observed?
    Could they reliably and consistently predict or determine the same outcome?  

  • What causes are the least likely to affect the outcome?

  • What are the best choices?
    

• Choose the best option or answer to your problem as your hypothesis.  
  This will be an "educated guess" based upon both your observation and past experiences. 
  

•  State your hypothesis in a simple, clear statement

  Hypothesis:  a possible explanation for a cause and effect of a given situation or set of factors that can be tested, and can be repetitively  proved right (or wrong!)   (Remember:  A hypothesis is not an observation or description of an event, that is in the first, observation stage!)

Test

•  Types of data you need

  •  the physical sciences of chemistry and physics rely heavily on numbers as data, and on replicable experimentation to measure and calculate results

  • sciences such as sociology rely on interviews and observation due to limitations of experimentation with human subjects, and use descriptions and inferences to arrive at results
    

• Design an experiment to test your hypothesis

  • make a step-by-step procedure 
    with each step's purpose

  • List and obtain materials
    and equipment you will need

  • identify two groups in the test:  
    the control group
    is your reference point; no variables are changed;
    the experimental group
    is the focus of changes to affect the outcome

  • Rely on your past experience
    to identify variables, but consult with a knowledgeable person for a second opinion
    

• Run a series of experiments

  • Change only one variable
    in each experiment in order to isolate effects reliably

  • Make and record accurate measurements

  • Repeat the test  
    as often as necessary with the experimental group to verify your results.  Always change only one thing, or variable, in each test

  • Repeat successful tests with other groups 
    to verify your findings
    

• Common mistakes

  • the hypothesis is assumed to be the "answer" and is not supported with  testing

  • Data is ignored
    that doesn't support your outcome

  • Beliefs/bias blind you
    to fatal flaws in the testing phase

  • Systematic errors are not noticed 
    and are repeated within each experiment.  These bias the outcome's standard deviation

  • Equipment or conditions are not adequate

Draw conclusions

• Summarize your results and conclusions
  use graphs and tables to illustrate these. 

• Refer back to 
  your observations, data, and hypothesis for consistency

•  Note difficulties and problems, 
  items for further research, or what you would do differently if you could

If you did not prove your hypothesis, you have succeeded in another sense!   Unsuccessful experiments 

• provide information that can lead to answers by eliminating options;

• save someone the trouble of repeating your experiments;

• suggest other ways of solving similar problems
  Remember:  research builds on the work of others. 

J. Stein Carter. http://buglady.clc.uc.edu/biology/bio104/sci_meth.htm

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