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The Scientific Method is used by
researchers to support or disprove a theory. It can be
used to answer True-False questions only. For example:
Not Valid
: Why do giraffes have long necks?
At first glance, this question seems quite
scientific. However, questions of this type cannot be proven
scientifically. The best you can do is come up with a
believable theory, such as
"Assuming Darwin's theory of
evolution, giraffes with long necks have evolutionarily had an
advantage over giraffes with shorter necks."
The Scientific Method involves the following steps:
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Observation- You observe something in the material
world, using your senses or machines which are basically
extensions of those senses.
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Question- You ask a question about what you
observe.
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Hypothesis- You predict what you think the answer
to your question might be
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Method - You figure out a way to test whether
hypothesis is correct. The outcome must be measurable.
(quantifiable)
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Result- You do the experiment using the method you
came up with and record the results. You repeat the experiment to
confirm your results.
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Conclusion- You state whether your prediction was
confirmed or not and try to explain your results.
A conclusion will often lead to another question,
which can lead to another experiment, which can lead to another
conclusion, and on and on. Science is like doing a giant puzzle,
with the handicap that you are missing an unknown number of pieces.
Each new scientific fact is a piece of the puzzle. Each new piece
can change the appearance of entire sections of the picture or fit
where one did not expect it to. When scientists have an answer to a
question they have asked, they share their results with other
scientists in papers, magazine articles, lectures, posters or
displays at conventions. This way, new puzzle pieces can be checked
out, and the fit tested. You will present your results at the
science fair in the form of a display. |