The scientific method has been around for a long time and has proven to be very reliable and accurate way to find out the truth in simple organized steps it can be used to answer questions and find out a truthful answer…Just what we need! There will be an example scientific method to show you how the scientific method can be put into effect in ordinary life to find the truthful answer to Questions.[1]
So, what are the steps to the scientific method?
So, what exactly are the steps to the scientific method? The steps go in order and can vary from source to source, but they usually have a pattern, and the most crucial ones are addressed here:
1. Observation
The very first step in the scientific method is observation; Observation is anything you can sense with your five senses or a tool to aid those five senses or makes them stronger. Anything you sense is considered an observation [1] [2]
Example observation
You look up and see the sky and notice it is a certain color.
2. Question(s)
The next step (and the reason why you need the scientific method in the first place) is Questions. As discussed earlier a question is something asked when you wonder about a certain thing but do not know the answer to it. In this case you have a question about the observation you have just sensed and want to know why something you sensed is.[1] [3]
Example Question
From your observation of the sky, you wonder “What color is the sky?”
3. Research Question (Optional and if available)
(This step is not necessary but can be useful for considering the options of the answer and forming your hypothesis when information is available)
The Next step is collecting information on the subject from others and getting their information on what they think is the correct answer. When you research your question, it should be people who have already researched the same question and have somewhat of a truthful answer themselves. But this is not necessarily the case because you CAN receive information from some sources that have never used the scientific method to research the question themselves and will just give you their opinion on what they think is right (which is also expectable but just note they have no research to back it up). When you gather the information write it down so you can remember it later, research will help you see and know what to look for in later steps and point to a possible truth.[1] [4]
Example Research
You ask others about what color they think the sky is and why, all the people you ask say the sky is the color blue because its common sense and so many people have proved it true.
4. Hypothesis (Optional)
(This step is not necessary but is usually included in the scientific method and is mainly to help the person explore all options to the POSSIBLE answer to the question)
The next step is hypothesis; a hypothesis is what you think the answer is to the questions based on what you know about it so far. Your hypothesis is NOT THE ANSWER it could be right or wrong depending on what the data reveals, but your answer will open you up to the possibilities of what COULD be right and should be considered until proven right or wrong the correct answer to you for the time being. [1] [5]
Example Hypothesis
Based on what you have been told and based on what you know you guess the sky is blue.
5. Test/Experiment
The core of the scientific method is the testing; a test is a purposely designed event or action for someone or something in order to see how someone or something responds in order to make a conclusion about such thing/person. More specifically a test that is used to answer a question in science is called an Experiment. An experiment is like a test except for a specific observation set up just to answer a specific question asked. The whole point of the experiment is to see how a certain scenario plays out in order to get data about the scenario. This scenario should mimic a very controlled observation pertaining to the question or original observation; because of this the most difficult part of an experiment is designing it for a unique question. After a test is designed once the scenario has started the test is to be carefully monitored and data is to be collected.[1] [5]
Example Experiment
To answer your question about the sky’s color and to prove (or disprove) your hypothesis you design an experiment for your question: you color a big paper sheet all different colors and labeling them their color's names, then you leave a hole in the middle where the sky will be. Then you’re ready for the scenario. You go outside and hold the paper to the sky the sky’s color shows through the square and now you compare the sky’s color to all the other color and take data from the experiment.
6. Data
The next step right after the experiment is data, data is information that is collected about something being tested or some even witnessed. During an experiment you are to observe what happens and then record what you observe in a certain measurement; this is scientific data. After all data is collected and the experiment has ended, the data collected from the experiment should be compared and analyzed in the form it’s in. Once the data is collected and organized the data needs to be compared and analyzed.[1]
Example Data
Once the Experiment is done you mark an X on the colors that do not match the color of the sky in the middle and a check mark that does match the color of the sky. You see from the data that all the colors do not match the sky’s color except for one: which is blue.
7. Conclusion
The final step to answering the question is the final conclusion on the matter. Once the data is analyzed from what the data has revealed, a final conclusion should be made on what happened and thus the truth is discovered! (The answer to the question!) And a conclusion is made.[1]
Example Conclusion
From the data you conclude that the sky’s color is blue. (so, the sky is blue is a truth of reality)
So, after coming to a final conclusion you have completed the scientific method and by now should have found the truth to your question!
But sadly, sometimes the conclusion is not always clear to answer the question, but you should still have a least a better understanding of the question you asked than before the scientific method. Now that you have gotten an answer to your questions there are extra steps AFTER completing the scientific method that should be followed after discovering a truth:
8. Classify the new truth
The next thing to do is to now classify the new truth. Now for every truth that is found there is a correct scientific classification to explain more about what the truth explains and where it stands in reality. There are different classification depending on what the truth explains and how much testing it’s been through, but it can be easily found out by knowing what the classifications are.
Example classifying the truth
After sharing the truth that the sky is blue you decide to classify this truth as a fact, since it has been proven by you and others many times.
9. Share Results
After discovering a truth and classifying it you should share the newfound truth with the world and especially the scientific community. This newfound truth should be shared freely with everyone and should be included in everyone’s knowledge about the subject.[1]
Example Share Results
Once you discover the sky is blue you share it with your close friends and family and write it down in your notes and how you discovered it and send it in a note in the newspaper about your new discovery.
10. Ask new Questions
The final post-truth step is to ask newer but more specific questions based off the newfound truth from your original question. Once you answer your question you will most likely have (a) new question(s) due to discovering that truth. These questions of course can be answered once again in the scientific method to answer the original question, so in this way the questions will keep having answers and you will get closer and more precise to the truth because of the scientific method!
Example ask new questions
After you discover the sky is blue you wonder other things about the sky like “Why is the sky blue?” and “Is the sky always blue all the time?” you decided to investigate these question with the scientific method.
Now that we know how science works and how to find the truth, we need to know what we are finding the truth about…
Sources:
[1]
[A] Science Buddies “Steps of the Scientific Method”
Website:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-fair/steps-of-the-scientific-method
[B] Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Six Steps of the Scientific Method." ThoughtCo, Nov. 6,
Website:
https://www.thoughtco.com/steps-of-the-scientific-method-p2-606045
[C]Biology Dictionary “Scientific Method”
Website:
https://biologydictionary.net/scientific-method/
[2]
[A] Explorable.com (Sep 9, 2009). Scientific Observation.
Website:
https://explorable.com/scientific-observation
[B] The Scientific Method Observation| Definition
Website:
http://brandonbeltz.com/scimeth/observations2.htm
[3]
[A] Reference* “What is a scientific Question?”
Website:
https://www.reference.com/education/scientific-question-49d15c0dfcd03b10
[4]
Encyclopedia Britannica “Scientific hypothesis” Written By: Kara Rogers
Website:
https://www.britannica.com/science/scientific-hypothesis
[5]
The Free Dictionary “Experiment”
Website:
https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Scientific+experiment
("Scientific experiment." Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. 2003. Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc)
("Scientific experiment." The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary. 2007. Houghton Mifflin Company)