The Scientific Method

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 The Scientific Method

Systematic, logical procedure for obtaining knowledge

Five steps:
1. Observation
2. Hypothesis formation
3. Experimentation
4. Recording and Analyzing Data
5. Drawing Conclusion
 The Scientific Method

1. Observation

- Basis in stating problem

- Scientists recognizes and notes a specific phenomenon
that can be measured objectively
- Documentation of all relevant data, including detailed
description of the problem and its component (variables)
- Must be limited to those the scientist can observe
whether directly or indirectly, with or without the use of an
instrument
 The Scientific Method

2. Hypothesis formation

- “educated guess”

- Statement based on a previous observation that can

be tested scientifically

- The purpose is to develop proposition that asserts or

can explain a relationship between variables
 The Scientific Method

3. Experimentation

- Controlled operation of testing the hypothesis which

includes experimental and control group

- This requires the conduct of two parallel tests that

are identical in all but one respect: in one test, the
variable of interest is applied (experimental group);
and other, variable not be applied (control group)
 The Scientific Method

- Control group serves as the scientist’s frame of

reference during the experiment

- Any difference between the two test is evidence of

the variable effects
 The Scientific Method

4. Recording and Analyzing Data

- Could be qualitative or quantitative

- Data must be collected, recorded and analyzed
- Records should be accurate
- Data tables and graphs may help the scientists to
organize and display the information for analysis
- Statistical tools may be used to determine the
significant difference of the experimental data
 The Scientific Method

5. Drawing Conclusion

- Based on the analysis of the collected and recorded

data
- Critical analysis which will decide whether the
original hypothesis will be accepted, rejected or
modified
- Conclusions can be tentative, or firm depending on
the investigator’s confidence in strength of the
evidence
 Communicating Results

 Most important part of the scientific method

 Can be done through public presentations and

publications

 Similar experiments can be conducted to challenge

the tested hypothesis
 If the hypothesis is tested and confirmed often
enough, the scientific community calls the
hypothesis a theory
 The theory can be elevated as scientific law, as
more and more repeated challenges showed
continued support to the theory
 Scientific law- is a uniform or constant fact of
nature; enjoys mores confidence than theories