What’s So Scientific What’s So Scientific About The Scientific About The Scientific

Method?Method?

How Scientists Work:How Scientists Work: Solving the ProblemsSolving the Problems

Much of science deals with solving Much of science deals with solving problemsproblems

No matter what types of problemsNo matter what types of problemsare being studied, scientists use are being studied, scientists use the same problem-solving steps the same problem-solving steps called…called…

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

Scientific MethodScientific Method Definition Definition The The scientific methodscientific method is- is-

A logical and systematic A logical and systematic approach or process to approach or process to problem solving.  problem solving. 

There can be variations in the There can be variations in the steps, but they all follow the steps, but they all follow the same general format. same general format.

Scientific MethodScientific Method You may You may

see different see different versions of versions of the the scientific scientific method, but method, but they all have they all have the same the same basic steps:basic steps:

Scientific MethodScientific Method Listing the StepsListing the Steps Make an ObservationMake an Observation Define the ProblemDefine the Problem Research the ProblemResearch the Problem State the HypothesisState the Hypothesis Experiment to test Experiment to test

HypothesisHypothesis Collect and Record DataCollect and Record Data Analyze DataAnalyze Data Draw ConclusionsDraw Conclusions Report ResultsReport Results

If needed, Do more investigation

Using the Scientific MethodUsing the Scientific Method

The really cool thing about the The really cool thing about the scientific method is that it can be used scientific method is that it can be used to solve all kinds of problems, not just to solve all kinds of problems, not just science.science.

It is really just a tool for solving It is really just a tool for solving problems.problems.

Let’s look at an example.Let’s look at an example.

1. Observing1. Observing

You sit down at You sit down at your desk and your desk and you try to turn you try to turn your desk lamp your desk lamp on but it does not on but it does not work. work.

2. Identify Problem2. Identify Problem Recognize, state or define the Recognize, state or define the

problemproblem Must be in the form of a question Must be in the form of a question The obvious question is:  The obvious question is: 

Why isn’t my desk light turning on? Why isn’t my desk light turning on?

3. Researching3. Researching

Gather information related to the problem:Gather information related to the problem: 1. Lamps need electricity.1. Lamps need electricity. 2. Lamps need working light bulbs.2. Lamps need working light bulbs. 3. Lamps need working switches3. Lamps need working switches 4. Lamps need continuous wiring. 4. Lamps need continuous wiring.

4. Hypothesizing 4. Hypothesizing

A hypothesis is:A hypothesis is: An educated guess, trial answer, possible An educated guess, trial answer, possible

solution, predictionsolution, prediction Must be a statementMust be a statement Must be testable or measurableMust be testable or measurable Is based on your research Is based on your research

and previous experienceand previous experience

Hypothesizing Hypothesizing

List possible explanations List possible explanations (alternative (alternative hypotheses) based on your previous hypotheses) based on your previous experience (what you already know);  experience (what you already know);  and on research you have done   and on research you have done  

all of the hypotheses must be all of the hypotheses must be testabletestable and and reasonable.reasonable.

Hypothesizing Hypothesizing

Here are some possible explanations Here are some possible explanations for this problem:for this problem:

1. the lamp is not plugged in 1. the lamp is not plugged in 2. the bulb is burned out 2. the bulb is burned out 3. the lamp is broken 3. the lamp is broken 4. a demon has put a curse on your 4. a demon has put a curse on your

lamp lamp 5. something you haven't thought of 5. something you haven't thought of

yetyet

5. Experimenting5. Experimenting

Testing the hypothesisTesting the hypothesis Pick the hypothesis that makes the Pick the hypothesis that makes the

most sense and is most sense and is easiest to testeasiest to test

Then design a Then design a controlled controlled experimentexperiment

5. Experimenting5. Experimenting

Okay, let's choose option #1 since it is Okay, let's choose option #1 since it is the easiest: oops! the lamp is already the easiest: oops! the lamp is already plugged in! plugged in!

Okay, so we can throw away option #1 Okay, so we can throw away option #1 and go to the next easiest option, #2, and go to the next easiest option, #2, as our alternative explanation for why as our alternative explanation for why the lamp does not work (and so on). the lamp does not work (and so on).

5. Experimenting5. Experimenting

Do we need to test option 4?Do we need to test option 4? Is it a reasonable explanation?Is it a reasonable explanation? Can it even be tested?Can it even be tested? Sometimes we can eliminate a Sometimes we can eliminate a

possible hypothesis because it possible hypothesis because it doesn’t stand up to critical analysis doesn’t stand up to critical analysis and the “reasonableness” test.and the “reasonableness” test.

Let’s PracticeLet’s Practice

A man lives on the tenth floor of his A man lives on the tenth floor of his apartment building. Every morning he apartment building. Every morning he takes the elevator down to the first takes the elevator down to the first floor and goes to work. In the floor and goes to work. In the evenings, he takes the elevator to the evenings, he takes the elevator to the sixth floor and walks up the remaining sixth floor and walks up the remaining four flights of steps. Why does he do four flights of steps. Why does he do this? (Why not take the elevator to the this? (Why not take the elevator to the tenth floor?)tenth floor?)

Let’s Do More ResearchLet’s Do More Research

So far, none of our proposed So far, none of our proposed hypotheses seem to make sense.hypotheses seem to make sense.

Maybe we need to do more research Maybe we need to do more research and collect more data.and collect more data.

So, we take a field trip to the man’s So, we take a field trip to the man’s building, and we inspect the elevator. building, and we inspect the elevator. This is what we see.This is what we see.

Additional Research DataAdditional Research Data

Additional Research DataAdditional Research Data

Maybe that’s not enough to Maybe that’s not enough to figure it out.figure it out.

Maybe we need to meet the Maybe we need to meet the man too!!man too!!

Additional Research DataAdditional Research Data

The man on the right is the man who lives in our building.

Assignment

Make a Scientific Method Poster

List all steps in the Scientific Method and a brief description of what they are and why they are important.