Scientific Method Steps
Scientific Method Steps
The exact number of steps to the scientific method depends on how you break up the steps, but here is an overview of the basics:
1. Make observations.
2. Propose a hypothesis.
3. Design and perform an experiment to test the hypothesis.
4. Analyze your data to determine whether to accept or reject the hypothesis.
5. If necessary, propose and test a new hypothesis.
If you are having trouble designing an experiment or even getting an idea for a project, start with the first step of the scientific method: make observations.
Scientific Method Step 1: Make Observations
A lot of people think that the scientific method starts with forming a hypothesis. The reason for this misconception may be because many observations …show more content…
The null hypothesis, or no-difference hypothesis, is a good type of hypothesis to test. This type of hypothesis assumes no difference between two states. Here is an example of a null hypothesis: 'the rate at which grass grows is not dependent on the amount of light it receives'. Even if I think that light affects the rate at which my grass grows (probably not as much as rain, but that's a different hypothesis), it is easier to disprove that light has no effect than to get into complicated details about 'how much light', or 'wavelength of light', etc. However, these details can become their own hypotheses (stated in null form) for further experimentation. It is easiest to test separate variables in separate experiments. In other words, don't test the effects of light and water at the same time until after you have tested each …show more content…
If I wanted to test the null hypothesis, 'the rate of grass growth is not dependent on quantity of light', I would have grass exposed to no light (a control group... identical in every way to the other experimental groups except for the variable being tested), and grass with light. I could complicate the experiment by having differing levels of light, different types of grasses, etc. Let me stress that the control group can only differ from any experimental groups with respect to the onevariable. For example, in all fairness I could not compare grass in my yard in the shade and grass in the sun... there are other variables between the two groups besides light, such as moisture and probably pH of the soil (where I am it is more acidic near the trees and buildings, which is also where it is shady). Keep your experiment
The exact number of steps to the scientific method depends on how you break up the steps, but here is an overview of the basics:
1. Make observations.
2. Propose a hypothesis.
3. Design and perform an experiment to test the hypothesis.
4. Analyze your data to determine whether to accept or reject the hypothesis.
5. If necessary, propose and test a new hypothesis.
If you are having trouble designing an experiment or even getting an idea for a project, start with the first step of the scientific method: make observations.
Scientific Method Step 1: Make Observations
A lot of people think that the scientific method starts with forming a hypothesis. The reason for this misconception may be because many observations …show more content…
The null hypothesis, or no-difference hypothesis, is a good type of hypothesis to test. This type of hypothesis assumes no difference between two states. Here is an example of a null hypothesis: 'the rate at which grass grows is not dependent on the amount of light it receives'. Even if I think that light affects the rate at which my grass grows (probably not as much as rain, but that's a different hypothesis), it is easier to disprove that light has no effect than to get into complicated details about 'how much light', or 'wavelength of light', etc. However, these details can become their own hypotheses (stated in null form) for further experimentation. It is easiest to test separate variables in separate experiments. In other words, don't test the effects of light and water at the same time until after you have tested each …show more content…
If I wanted to test the null hypothesis, 'the rate of grass growth is not dependent on quantity of light', I would have grass exposed to no light (a control group... identical in every way to the other experimental groups except for the variable being tested), and grass with light. I could complicate the experiment by having differing levels of light, different types of grasses, etc. Let me stress that the control group can only differ from any experimental groups with respect to the onevariable. For example, in all fairness I could not compare grass in my yard in the shade and grass in the sun... there are other variables between the two groups besides light, such as moisture and probably pH of the soil (where I am it is more acidic near the trees and buildings, which is also where it is shady). Keep your experiment