The scientific method is a procedure used to answer questions, test ideas, and most importantly, gain scientific knowledge. Now when it comes to the scientific method, it has important components associated with it. Now let's take a look. The first one deals with the collecting of information from a primary source by human or mechanical means, meaning that I see it and therefore it helps start the whole process of the scientific method. Here, this is called observation. So I observe something with my senses or through the use of some type of instrument. So here, a quantitative one, one dealing with values numbers, is the body temperature of over 38 degrees Celsius. A qualitative observation is a patient looks flushed. Next, we have a proposed and testable explanation for an observation. Here, this would be our hypothesis. This addresses the answers to what will happen and why it will happen. Next, we have a testable and broad hypothesis of many observations that's supported by a large body of evidence. So here we call this a theory. And then, finally, we hope that from a theory we get to a testable phenomenon that the scientific community has found to be provably true. This is what we call a law. Now what's important to understand here is that technically, hypothesis and theories can never be proven correct. What happens instead is that they can be falsified. They can be proven incorrect. So when it comes to the scientific method, these are the most important components to it.
The Scientific Method - Online Tutor, Practice Problems & Exam Prep
The Scientific Method is a process used to help design and perform experiments in order to minimize experimental errors.
Components of the Scientific Method
The Scientific Method Concept 1
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The Scientific Method Example 1
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Which component of the scientific method deals with the following statement? "Gravity is the reason that an object that is initially tossed into the air comes back down towards the ground." Right. So we know that gravity is an undeniable fact within our everyday life. We know that gravity is what gives mass to objects here on Earth. We know that we can toss an object up, and it comes right back down. That's because of gravity. And we've heard the term the law of gravity. Because of that, this statement is a law. It is observable. We can prove that it is true. It's hard to falsify it. Therefore, it's going to be a law.
The Scientific Method Concept 2
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When it comes to the scientific method, realize that it starts with an observation and a question. So here if we take a look, we can break down the scientific method into 7 basic parts. In part 1, we make an observation. Here, we notice that a patient has high blood pressure. From that, we then ask ourselves a question. What type of diet does the patient have? From there, in step 3, we formulate a hypothesis, and from that hypothesis, we can make a prediction. We predict that we can lower the patient's sodium intake and that could help lower their blood pressure. Once we've made this hypothesis and prediction, we move on to step 4. Here, we design and conduct an experiment. We design a diet that is low in sodium. From there, we collect and interpret the data. We see if the patient's blood pressure is lower. And then from that, we can draw our own conclusions in step 6. Should we accept or reject our hypothesis? What happens when it comes to lowering a patient's sodium intake to help lower their blood pressure is considered here. If we accept this, we move on to step 7 where we have a peer review and publish our results. We just publish it as a primary piece of literature. If we reject our hypothesis, then we have to start all over again and make our new observation.
The Scientific Method Example 2
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A scientist observed a new phenomenon and wonders how it happens. Which of these steps comes next? So here we have interpret data, design an experiment, peer review, and hypothesize. We know that when it comes to the scientific method, it first starts out with an observation and then a question. Remember, after we have our observation, we come up with a hypothesis which will help us to understand what will happen and why it will happen. This means that option d would be the best choice. It comes next after our observations have been made.
Which of the following shows the best order of steps of the scientific method?
Which of the following statements represents an observation?
Which of the following statements represents a hypothesis?
