In our everyday lives, we consciously or subconsciously follow the steps of the scientific method to solve problems. Scientists do the same when conducting experiments. For example, if you wanted to find out if water evaporates quicker inside a house or outside a house, you would follow the scientific method. Click on each step below to follow the scientific process for answering this question.
We ask a question for which we don't know the answer. Usually, this question comes out of an observation we've made. The statement should be brief and clear and represent something that we can test for.
Example: Does water evaporate quicker inside or outside?
We make a statement about what we think the answer to this question might be. This statement is called the hypothesis, a statement that the experiment attempts to verify or disprove. Hypotheses are often written in an If...then... statement that describes some cause and the expected effect.
Example: If water evaporates quicker outside, then the outside sample will be empty before the inside sample.
We set up and conduct a controlled test. This is called the procedure or the experiment.
Example:
Step 1: Fill up two cups with exactly 10 mL of water.
Step 2: Place one cup inside the house and place the other cup outside.
Step 3: Measure the amount of water in each cup daily, and record results.
We make observations using our five senses. We observe what happens and record our observations. These are the results that describe what we see and measure during the experiment. Measurements should be organized in a table or graph.
Example:
| Location | Day 1 amount (mL) | Day 2 amount (mL) | Day 3 amount (mL) | Day 4 amount (mL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| Outside | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
We analyze the results of the experiment by looking at the information we've received and trying to figure out what it's telling us.
Example: The inside amount of water is greater than the outside amount after day 4.
The experiment either proves or disproves the hypothesis. Either way, we give an explanation for why the results turned out the way they did. This is the conclusion, and it tells what we learned during the experiment.
Example: In conclusion, water evaporates quicker when placed outside as opposed to inside. The hypothesis was verified and shown to be valid.
We evaluate the experiment by asking:
- Did it really do what it was intended to do?
- Could the method be improved so that it would have more accurate results?
- How can the information or process apply to personal life or experiences? This would answer the questions What does it all mean? or So what?
Example: This experiment did what it was intended to do. It could be improved by conducting the experiment again in different locations inside the house (a sunny window, a cool room, etc.) as well as outside the house. If the results remain constant, your conclusion will be supported. This experiment can apply to life in making decisions about whether to take something you need to dry quickly outside. Another question this experiment may pose is: Why does water evaporate quicker outside than inside?
Reflection
Think about the following question:
Is your hair smoother if you use conditioner?
What is a possible hypothesis? (Use an If... then... statement.)
What is a possible conclusion?
Is one step of the scientific method more important than the others?
| Your Responses | Sample Answers |
|---|---|
| Answers may vary. Example: If someone uses conditioner, that person’s hair will be smoother than someone who does not use conditioner. | |
| Answers may vary. Example: Conditioner makes your hair smoother. | |
| Many would argue one step over another, but really, every step is important. Without the scientific method, we would not know about the world around us. | |
