As soon as we enter school — elementary to be exact, we are being gradually introduced to the scientific method. Our science teachers made us conduct multiple experiments and laboratory activities in order to prove our hypothesis. Most textbooks and educators define scientific method as the systematic way of solving problems. When doing a study, scientists make use of this method to gather quantifiable and verifiable data in an experiment linked to the created hypothesis and arrive at a conclusion that either support or oppose the hypothesis.
Moreover, you can discover that you can obtain a handful of scientific insights upon following the scientific method. The benefits of using scientific insights for your further studies and even in daily life are definitely great and impactful. But, you need to strictly follow the scientific method before you can acquire these insights. Thus, here some details that you need to know in order to gain more scientific knowledge by using scientific method.
Ask some questions
According to “The Value of Asking Questions” by Ronald Vale posted in the Molecular Biology of the Cell Vol. 24, 6 in 2013, science starts by interrogations and queries followed by looking and finding answers. In scientific method, you should have a curious mind that is craving to know the answers. Come up with questions pertaining to what you have observed. There will be multiple chances for insight in this stage as you try to solve a question through scientific experimentation.
Create a hypothesis
Hypothesis refers to the concept that shows an initial explanation about a particular phenomenon that was being detected on Earth. This tentative description will help you come up with relevant predictions that will support your claims. However, these forecasts wouldn’t be claimed as facts until there are evidences that prove them to be true. It will only serve as the basis of the upcoming experiment.
Make observations
There are many traits that make a great scientist. Curious and observant are among those excellent characteristics. Hence, making keen observations is the first step of the scientific method. These observations will help you uncover the aspects behind a particular things or phenomenon. You can gain and document essential information that will allow you later on to form and test the theories that you have in mind. In this step, you might need to put your senses to work — as well as use different tools to support you.
Test the hypothesis
This is the step where everything is on the line. You are required to use the data that you have gathered from your observation. The test will support if your predictions are correct or not, which surely impact your hypothesis. It is essential to conduct a fair experiment by ensuring that you modify only one aspect at a time while maintaining the same status of the other factors. You may repeat conducting the same test in for better results.
Analyze data and arrive at a conclusion
The moment that you have completed the test, you need to gather the data and analyze them to identify if they have supported the hypothesis, during this step, can interpret the results by creating graphs, tables, etc. for better comparison and contrast. People in the science community frequently discover that their hypothesis is not supported by the evidences. They commonly redo the tests in order to get the accurate results and come up with a clearer result.
Present the results
After conducting the same test multiple times, the discrepancies and faults between the predictions and theory might already been established and identified now. The conclusion that you have drawn after the thorough experimentation should be presented. You can communicate these findings by creating a report and sending them to the important people that are part of your project. However, you should ensure that you are presenting the clear and factual results of the study.
From following the scientific method, your skills are being harnessed without you even knowing it. You have become more inquisitive, observant, and detail-oriented. While doing the experiments, you are being molded into a better scientist and have gained a lot of scientific insights that are beneficial to your journey through life.
Oliver’s Twist 