The scientific method is a means of research that uses systematic rules and procedures to investigate a problem. Using the scientific method ensures that research leads to reliable and true results. There are five basic steps in the scientific method.
The first step is to identify the problem, which begins with an observation of something the researcher cannot explain. The researcher refines the problem by making additional observations, drawing on information he or she knows about the topic, and investigating new information.
Next the researcher develops the final research question, which should be specific enough that it can be used to design a testable experiment. Some research questions can be answered with a single experiment, while complex questions might require multiple rounds of testing.
The second step is to formulate a hypothesis, an educated prediction of the outcome of a scientific experiment. To ensure the credibility of a hypothesis, the researcher should have documented background information and viable reasons the hypothesis may explain the unknown information in the research question.
Once the researcher has identified the problem and formulated a hypothesis, he or she can proceed to step three and design an experiment to test the hypothesis. An experiment is a controlled scientific test to determine the validity of a hypothesis. When designing an experiment, the researcher must determine how to isolate the problem so only the hypothesis is tested.
There are many considerations to take into account when designing an experiment, including variables, treatments, the control, constants, and trials. Variables are the factors that will change over the course of the experiment, and are classified as dependent or independent. Dependent variables are the variables that change because of the outcome of the experiment. Independent variables are the factors or conditions the researcher changes in order to test the hypothesis.
The different levels of independent variables are called the treatments. The control in an experiment is a section of the experiment that does not receive treatment. Constants are factors or conditions that are kept the same between the experimental groups, to ensure that only one thing is being changed at a time.
Because researchers cannot always control all the external factors that affect their research, the research is often conducted with multiple trials. The term trials refers to the number of test subjects the treatments are applied to, or the number of times the experiment is repeated. By collecting data multiple times on the same experimental topic, researchers have a larger amount of evidence from which to draw their conclusions.
The fourth step in the scientific method is to collect and analyze data. It is important to collect all the data on the outcomes, constants, control, and any other information that may have affected the outcome of the experiment. Collecting organized data is critical to being able to answer the research question, and to determine if the hypothesis was right or wrong. Researchers often collect data in a notebook containing detailed notes on the project, called a logbook. This would include all information related to the methods, management, and outcomes of the experiment.
Methods for analyzing data depend greatly on the type of data collected. Analysis of numerical data often involves comparing the averages of different groups to the control or to other treatments. A researcher may also analyze information related to some of the factors that he or she could not control for.
The final step in the scientific method is to reach a conclusion. After analyzing the data from the experiment, the researcher can make a determination of the outcome based on the hypothesis. This includes deciding whether to accept or reject the original hypothesis. A good conclusion includes all the results, and relates them to the hypothesis; it also includes information about how these results relate to the original problem being investigated.