The Steps of the Scientific Mathod

Process of experimentation used to explore observations and answer questions

The steps are NOT always the same but are usually similar

Information gathered through one of the five senses (sight, hear, touch, taste, feel)

This observation creates a question you wish to answer

Example: Apple slices turn brown when left out

The reason you are doing the experiment

The question you wish to answer

Can be written as a statement

Example: Can I stop the apple slices from turning brown?

Sometimes doing a lilttle research can help you answer the question OR

clarify the question you are asking

This step may be absent from the process

An educated guess

A possible answer the the question or problem that has been proposed

Should include the words If and then

Can be a prediction of what will happen in the experiment

It should testable

Example: If I dip the apple slices in a liquid, then they will not turn brown.

A series of procedures of steps performed in order to answer the question and test the hypothesis

Observations are made

Data is collected, usually in the form of a table

Your results may be represented as a graph or picture

Example: Cut three apple slices. Dip one in water, one in lemon juice and one in milk. Observe

Analyze and summarize the results

Was your hypothesis correct?

Example: Dipping apples in lemon juice stopped the apples from turning brown