The Scientific Method is not the only method used by scientists. It is, however, a systematic approach to problem solving that is widely used. The steps to the Scientific Method include:
Observation
You must first observe something that creates curiosity
within you. In our case, we will be studying paper airplanes. What do you know
about paper airplanes? They are made of paper. They don't fly too far. They
are powered by the arm of the thrower. They will fly differently depending on
wind. These are your OBSERVATIONS.
Problem
We must have a problem to investigate, otherwise, we have nothing
over which to experiment! In the case of our paper airplane(s), we might decide
to investigate a particular model. Does one model fly better than another? We
might be more interested in what happens if we modify one airplane. For instance,
if we fly ONE model (the CONTROL) four times and record the distance traveled
or perhaps, the time it stayed in the air, then what would happen if we cut
flaps on the wings? What would happen if we placed a paper clip on the airplane's
nose? These are PROBLEMS.
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is an educated guess based on INFORMATION
THAT YOU KNOW. A hypothesis is NOT a wild guess! Without specific background
information, you do not have a hypothesis if you simply state, "We believe
Airplane A will fly 10 meters." That is a pure guess! An acceptable hypothesis
uses information that you already know. For example, "It is possible to
test the distance flown between Airplane A and Airplane B using the Scientific
Method."
Experiment
Step-by-step instructions of your experiment go here.
You must list all materials used and state exactly how you performed your experiment.
Anyone wishing to repeat your experiment, must know what materials they need
and precisely how you conducted your experiment. Think of your mom in her kitchen
trying to follow Aunt Suzie's famous chocolate cake recipe. If Aunt Suzie leaves
out one ingredient, or one important step in the recipe, what problems might
Mom encounter?
Results
Scientists must communicate their results to other scientists.
Why experiment at all if you don't plan to tell someone the results of your
experiment? Where would science be today if Isaac Newton had experimented and
then kept all his results to himself? Isaac Newton is quoted as having said,
"If I have seen farther, it is only because I have stood on the shoulders
of giants." This quote refers to Newton's gratitude to the discoveries
of scientists who lived before him.
Under Results, you should include your data tables and all the graphs you created from those tables. What were your results? Analyze those results and begin to draw conclusions.
Conclusion
This is where scientists state the conclusions drawn from their experiment.
You should also state whether or not your hypothesis was right. In science,
whether your hypothesis was right or wrong, doesn't matter! Scientists need
to know this information so that they know how to proceed with their own hypothesis
and experiment. It is always helpful to state in your Conclusion
what you would do differently if you were to run the same experiment again.
This gives the next scientist
something to think about before running his own.
Throughout the year, we will be using the steps of the scientific method to
experiment and problem solve. Here are a few links you may want to check out.
LINKS:
Forensics
- FBI for Youth
Forensics
in the Classroom - Teacher Page
Mystery Spot
Scientific
Method Lab
Use the Scientific
Method to Improve Your Social Life!
Egg
in a Bottle?
Steps of the Scientific
Method
PDF
Simple Paper Airplane LAB
(Updated
last 07/06/05)