Scientific Method

813 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Scientific method

Science is used by people every day whether or not they realize it or not. When we have a problem we unknowingly use the scientific method to resolve the problem. The scientific method is a step by step process that is used to discover answers to scientific questions. We identify what the problem is first by observing a situation that occurs that we are not expecting, identify what the problem is and then form a hypothesis to resolve the problem. A hypothesis is created by asking an “if-then” question identifying the steps that will be used to resolve the problem. The independent variable or the steps that will be used to solve the problem follows the “if” statement. The dependent variable or the outcome expected from the experiment follows the “then” statement (Hazen, 2011, p. 9). We test our hypothesis by conducting an experimenting and then examining the results or data produced by the experiment. If the results from our experiment resolve our problem we have proven our theory. If the results do not reduce the problem we go back and create a new hypothesis and experiment again until we find a solution (Hazen, 2011, p. 8).
The following two scenarios will demonstrate how the scientific method assists in resolving problems that may affect our everyday lives. The first scenario involves a missing ingredient from a recipe that is being prepared for a dinner party an hour before the guests arrive. The ingredients needed to cook crepes for the dinner guests are gathered and it is determined that one of the key ingredients needed is missing. This is the first step in the scientific method is to identify the problem which in this case is the missing ingredient. For the purpose of this paper the missing ingredient will be eg...

... middle of paper ...

...eriments to test our hypothesis and then evaluate the results of our experiments. If the experiments resolves our issues we go about our day and if our problem still exists we form a new hypothesis and experiment again until we find a solution. We are using a proven analytical method to resolve the issues we face and conducting scientific experiments that produce data that we pass on to our families and friends.

Works Cited

All Recipes. (2014). Common Ingredient Substitutions. Retrieved January 9, 2014, from All Recipes: http://allrecipes.com/howto/common-ingredient-substitutions/
Hazen, R. M. (2011). The sciences: an integrated approach, (6th ed). . Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Wise Geek. (2013). How Do I Increase Vacuum Cleaner Suction? Retrieved January 8, 2014, from Wise Geek: http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-increase-vacuum-cleaner-suction.htm

Show More
Related

  • Sex, Drugs, Disasters, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs by Stephen Jay Gould

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    Any hypothesis, Gould says, begins with the collection of facts. In this early stage of a theory development bad science leads nowhere, since it contains either little or contradicting evidence. On the other hand, Gould suggests, testable proposals are accepted temporarily, furthermore, new collected facts confirm a hypothesis. That is how good science works. It is self-correcting and self-developing with the flow of time: new information improves a good theory and makes it more precise. Finally, good hypotheses create logical relations to other subjects and contribute to their expansion.

    Read More

  • Seeing by Annie Dillard and Our Perception of the World

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ferinad Puretz, Max. 'True Science', Review of Peter Medawar, Advice to a Young Scientist. N.p.: n.p., 1980. Print.

    Read More

  • The Awakening - Movie

    448 Words  | 1 Pages

    It is composed of several steps, it starts with observations. Observations are where a person collects known data concerning what you are going to test on. Next they formulate a hypothesis based on their observations. After they have a hypothesis they perform several experiments to prove or disprove it.

    Read More

  • Psuedopsychology vs the Scientific Method

    2454 Words  | 5 Pages

    In order to properly extricate the truth from the fallacies of psuedopsychology the scientific method can be used as a tool. The scientific method is a form of critical thinking based on a careful collection of evidence, accurate description and measurement, precise definition, controlled observation, and repeatable results (Jackson, 2008). This method is composed of 6 bodies: 1. Make Observations; 2. Defining a Problem; 3. Proposing a Hypothesis; 4. Gathering evidence/Test Hypothesis; 5. Interpret/Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions; 6.Publishing Results, many scientist retest their experiment for more accurate results.

    Read More

  • Process of Scientific Inquiry

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rebecca Skloot’s novel, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks told the story of the injustice done a a young African American woman, and her family. Henrietta’s cancerous cells were taken from her without her consent, and turned out to be immortal. They were sold all over the world for billions of dollars, while her family, struggling to put food on the table, did not receive a penny of it. Rebecca Skloot uncovers the hidden story of the HeLa cells, and provides a novel not only highly informational, but also with insight to the workings of science. This book outlines the process of scientific inquiry, reveals the contrary forces of altruism and profit that influenced HeLa, and the risks and benefits of profit guiding research as well as the obstacles faced when conducting research for purely altruistic reasons.

    Read More

  • The Effect Of Negative Body Talk On An Diverse Sample Of College Students

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    The scientific method is how psychologists gain knowledge about the mind and behavior. It is used by all scientists. The experimental method is the one way to engage the scientific method, and the only way to find a cause and effect in relationships. It is summarized in five steps, observing some phenomenon in the world, forming a hypothesis which is an educated prediction about relationships between two or more variables, examining the gathered information by using empirical research, determining what the results are and drawing them, and evaluating the results whether it will support the hypothesis or not. Researchers, at the end, submit their work for publication for all to see and read (King, 2016). There are three types of psychological research in the scientific method, descriptive research, correlation, and experimental research (King, 2016). The article The Effects of Negative Body Talk in an Ethnically Diverse Sample of College Students (Katrevich, Register, & Aruguete, 2014) is an example of the experimental method.

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Great Influenza By John M Barry

    418 Words  | 1 Pages

    Uncertainty can make anyone fear the unknown. However, scientists learn to work with this looming obstacle, for they frequently encounter uncertainty. In the passage, The Great Influenza, author John M. Barry depicts his idea of scientific research and how constant uncertainty impacts it. His purpose is to give characteristics to scientific research thus enabling his audience to view methodical scientific research in a new light. Barry’s inventive use of antithesis, metaphor, and rhetorical questions, establishes the important characteristics of scientific research, especially the ability to embrace uncertainty.

    Read More

  • biology scientific process

    2600 Words  | 6 Pages

    Scientists make progress by using the scientific method, a process of checking conclusions against nature. After observing something, a scientist tries to explain what has been seen. The explanation is called a hypothesis. There is always at least one alternative hypothesis. A part of nature is tested in a "controlled experiment" to see if the explanation matches reality. A controlled experiment is one in which all treatments are identical except that some are exposed to the hypothetical cause and some are not.

    Read More

  • Bayes' Theorem

    3823 Words  | 8 Pages

    New York: Science Editions, 1994. Redhead, M.L.G. & Co., Inc. (1980, November ). The New York Times. A Bayesian Reconstruction of Methodology of Scientific Research Programs. Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science, pp.

    Read More

  • Seven Process Skills Of Inquiry

    723 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another part of the science inquiry skills is questioning. Curiosity drives the inquiry process, it generates questions and a search for answers. In process of asking series is first step finding. If you don’t question anything then you might get the real answer wrong. That's why it is important to always question everything. Another inquiry skill is predicting. Predictions are central to the process of testing whether or not a hypothesis is on the right track. This process takes away the need for guessing. A prediction goes beyond available evidence to suggest what will happen in the future. You should always predict. You also have to investigate. Measuring, gathering data, and performing fair tests are used to gain the evidence necessary to provide a consistent interpretation. With meaningful evidence, we can answer a question or test a prediction with some certainty that the appropriate variable is being tested and systematically measured. One of the final inquiry skill is interpreting. Interpreting includes finding a pattern of effects and synthesizing a variety of information in order to make a statement about their combined meaning. It may include making associations between variables and making sure

    Read More

  • Advantages And Disadvantages Of Psychological Research Methods

    1598 Words  | 4 Pages

    The first method to be discussed and analysed are experimental methods. There is a variety of experimental methods including; laboratory, field and natural experiments. These methods are the most scientific method due to them being highly objective and systematic. In addition, this method is regarded as the most powerful research method used in psychology because of the potential to investigate the causes of events and therefore, identifying the cause and effect relationship. When carrying out an experiment the researcher intervenes directly in the situation being investigated. The researcher manipulates an independent variable (IV) in order to investigate whether there is a change in the dependent variable (DV). Any other variables that could have an

    Read More

  • Is Money Really an Effective Motivator?

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    Taylor, Frederick Winslow (1911). The Principles of Scientific Management. New York, NY, US and London, UK: Harper & Brothers. Print. 8 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • Qualitative Research Assessment

    1180 Words  | 3 Pages

    Experimental research attempts to identify relationship by conducting controlled experiments psychological experiments; furthermore, the experimental is a quantitative approach designed to discover the effects of presumed causes (Christensen, Johnson, & Turner, 2014). The key feature of this approach is that one thing is deliberately varied to see what happens to something else to determine the effects of presumed cause. Some individuals use exercise to see if they can lose weight,

    Read More

  • Behaviorism Essay

    3387 Words  | 7 Pages

    A team of scientists can observe the same phenomenon under investigation. They can then formulate a hypothesis to account for those behaviors. They can then form experiments so they can confirm or reject those hypothesis designed to explain the behavior of organisms.

    Read More

  • Human sciences and natural sciences and the attainment of truth

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    Beginning with the scientific revolution in the fifteen hundreds, the Western world has become accustomed to accepting knowledge that is backed by the scientific method, a method that has been standardized worldwide for the most accurate results. This method allows people to believe that the results achieved from an experiment conducted using the scientific method have been properly and rigorously tested and must therefore be the closest to truth. This method also allows for replication of any experiment with the same results, which further solidifies the credibility and standing of natural science in the world. Another aspect that allows for the reliability on the natural sciences is the current paradigm boxes, which skew the truth to remove anomalies. This affects the outcome of experiments as the hypotheses will be molded to create results that fit the paradigm box.

    Read More

More about Scientific Method

Open Document