Scientific MethodScientific Method

i.e. How we go about solving i.e. How we go about solving problemsproblems

1. Define Problem1. Define Problem

You must know what the problem IS You must know what the problem IS before you can attempt to solve it!before you can attempt to solve it!– What am I dealing with?What am I dealing with?

2. Research Problem2. Research Problem

Find out all the facts about the problemFind out all the facts about the problem– Better able to attack the problemBetter able to attack the problem– All sourcesAll sources

Prevent duplicationPrevent duplication– What if someone has already solved your What if someone has already solved your

problem?!problem?!

3. Form HYPOTHESIS3. Form HYPOTHESIS

What is a hypothesis?What is a hypothesis?– Not an Not an educated guesseducated guess!!!!!!– Educated IDEA (it is what you think the Educated IDEA (it is what you think the

answer to your problem is!!!)answer to your problem is!!!)

4. Perform Experiment4. Perform Experiment

Designed to generate dataDesigned to generate data

Can be done many waysCan be done many waysLab/experimentsLab/experiments

surveysurvey

5. Analyze Data5. Analyze Data

Make sense of the data that came from Make sense of the data that came from the experimental stepthe experimental step– TablesTables– ComputersComputers– GraphsGraphs

6. Draw Conclusion6. Draw Conclusion

Confirm your hypothesisConfirm your hypothesis– Or not!Or not!

If confirmed, publish for other scientists to If confirmed, publish for other scientists to dodo

If not, go back and tweak hypothesis and If not, go back and tweak hypothesis and run again run again