The Scientific Method

By Mr. Krall

The Scientific Method

What is the Scientific Method?-The Scientific Method is a set of steps that help organize thinking to solve a problem.

Who can use the Scientific Method?-Anyone can use the Scientific Method

What kind of problems does the Scientific Method work on?- The Scientific Method can be used on any problem.

Steps of the Scientific Method

1. State the Problem2. Gather Information3. Make a Hypothesis4. Experiment5. Get & Use Results

(Sometimes there are more or less steps depending on the teacher. Sometimes the steps have different names. The idea behind it is always the same.)

State the Problem

In this step all you do is:Say what the problem isIdentify the problemDefine the problemName the problem

You aren’t doing anything about the problem yet.You aren’t even thinking about how to solve it yet.

Gather Information

In this step you are:Thinking about past experiencesUsing your 5 sensesDoing researchUsing communication skills

You are doing whatever you can to learn about the problem.

Make a Hypothesis

In this step you are:Making an educated guessFormulating a plan or strategyMaking a decision

You are making an educated guess (based on the information you got from the Gather Information step) about what will solve the problem.

Experiment

In this step you are:Taking action to solve the problemTesting your hypothesisRunning an experiment

You are taking action to determine if or to what degree your hypothesis is going to solve your problem.

Get & Use Results

In this step you:Find out if your problem is solved or notGet results from your experimentMight end up with more problems or questions

When the experiment is over, your problem is either solved or you have to try again in a new way.

When Experiments Fail…

If your experiment fails you might:Go back and try another hypothesisGo back and gather more informationGo back and make sure you know what your problem really is

If your first hypothesis fails, you keep adjusting and trying again, until you find a solution.

GET & USE RESULTS

“Was your experiment a success?”

GATHER INFORMATION

“Learn as much as you can about the problem.”

EXPERIMENT

“Take action to solve the problem.”

MAKE A HYPOTHESIS

“Make an educated guess.”

STATE THE PROBLEM

“Give the problem a name.”