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How do I use the
scientific method?
The scientific method is
just a list of steps that you need to follow when you're solving a problem.
Depending on who you talk to, there are anywhere from five to eight steps
in the scientific method. However, all versions of the scientific method
involve the person trying to solve the problem experimenting to find an
answer.
The version of the scientific
method that I use in my class has six steps, as follows:
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Purpose: You've got a
problem that you want to have solved. The purpose step in the scientific
method is just a restatement of what you want accomplished. What do you
want to find out? What is your goal? You should write just one sentence
for your purpose. You'll see what I mean in the upcoming example.
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Hypothesis: How do you
think you can solve the problem? The hypothesis step is always written
in the form "If ___________, then ___________. The blank after the "if"
is called the independent variable. The independent variable is
just whatever you are going to do to solve the problem. The blank after
"then" is the dependent variable. The dependent variable is what
you think will happen when you do whatever the independent variable is.
For example, if your hypothesis is that "If I take an aspirin, my headache
will go away," your independent variable is "taking an aspirin" (this is
what you do) and your dependent variable is "the headache will go away"
(what happens as a result of your having done something).
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Materials: What do you
need to have in order to see if your hypothesis is true? This part of the
scientific method is a list of everything you need to do the experiment.
Leave nothing out!
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Procedure: What are you
going to do during this experiment. You should list everything that
you are going to do in this section. Even if it seems obvious, write it
down. A good rule of thumb: If a six-year-old child can understand what
you've written, then you've written it well. If they can't, then you need
to go into more detail!
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Results: When you did
the experiment, what happened? What did you see, hear, smell, etc? You
should give a complete accounting of all data that you take (sometimes
this is referred to as the "Data" section). There's an old saying among
chemists: "If you didn't write it down, then it didn't happen." Make sure
you write everything down!
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Conclusion: What do the
results mean? Was your hypothesis correct? This section should be only
one sentence long. For example, if you proved the hypothesis that "If I
take an aspirin, my headache will go away," then the conclusion should
be "I took an aspirin, and my headache went away." Don't make this any
longer than it has to be!
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