The scientific method

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Biology

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Jan 9, 2024

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The scientific method NGSS.HS: HS-ETS1.B Google Classroom How the scientific method is used to test a hypothesis. Introduction A biology investigation usually starts with an observation—that is, something that catches the biologist’s attention. For instance, a cancer biologist might notice that a certain kind of cancer can't be treated with chemotherapy and wonder why this is the case. A marine ecologist, seeing that the coral reefs of her field sites are bleaching—turning white—might set out to understand why. How do biologists follow up on these observations? How can you follow up on your own observations of the natural world? In this article, we’ll walk through the scientific method , a logical problem-solving approach used by biologists and many other scientists. The scientific method At the core of biology and other sciences lies a problem-solving approach called the scientific method. The scientific method has five basic steps, plus one feedback step: 1. Make an observation. 2. Ask a question.

3. Form a hypothesis , or testable explanation. 4. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis. 5. Test the prediction. 6. Iterate: use the results to make new hypotheses or predictions. The scientific method is used in all sciences—including chemistry, physics, geology, and psychology. The scientists in these fields ask different questions and perform different tests. However, they use the same core approach to find answers that are logical and supported by evidence. Scientific method example: Failure to toast Let's build some intuition for the scientific method by applying its steps to a practical problem from everyday life. 1. Make an observation. Let's suppose that you get two slices of bread, put them into the toaster, and press the button. However, your bread does not toast. 1. Observation: the toaster won't toast.

2. Ask a question. Why didn't my bread get toasted? 2. Question: Why won't my toaster toast? 3. Propose a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a potential answer to the question, one that can somehow be tested. For example, our hypothesis in this case could be that the toast didn't toast because the electrical outlet is broken. 3. Hypothesis: Maybe the outlet is broken.

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This hypothesis is not necessarily the right explanation. Instead, it's a possible explanation that we can test to see if it is likely correct, or if we need to make a new hypothesis. [Can any explanation count as a hypothesis?] [Is a hypothesis a theory?] 4. Make predictions. A prediction is an outcome we'd expect to see if the hypothesis is correct. In this case, we might predict that if the electrical outlet is broken, then plugging the toaster into a different outlet should fix the problem. 4. Prediction: If I plug the toaster into a different outlet, then it will toast the bread. 5. Test the predictions.

To test the hypothesis, we need to make an observation or perform an experiment associated with the prediction. For instance, in this case, we would plug the toaster into a different outlet and see if it toasts. 5. Test of prediction: Plug the toaster into a different outlet and try again. ● If the toaster does toast, then the hypothesis is supported—likely correct. ● If the toaster doesn't toast, then the hypothesis is not supported —likely wrong. The results of a test may either support or contradict—oppose—a hypothesis. Results that support a hypothesis can't conclusively prove that it's correct, but they do mean it's likely to be correct. On the other hand, if results contradict a hypothesis, that hypothesis is probably not correct. Unless there was a flaw in the test—a possibility we should always consider—a contradictory result means that we can discard the hypothesis and look for a new one. [More about hypotheses, proof, and disproof]

6. Iterate. The last step of the scientific method is to reflect on our results and use them to guide our next steps. And the result is: Left panel: My bread toasts! Hypothesis is supported. Right panel: My bread still won't toast. Hypothesis is not supported.

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6. Iteration time! Left panel (in case of hypothesis being supported): But what is actually wrong with the outlet? Right panel (in case of hypothesis not being supported): Hmm...maybe there is a broken wire in the toaster. ● If the hypothesis was supported, we might do additional tests to confirm it, or revise it to be more specific. For instance, we might investigate why the outlet is broken. ● If the hypothesis was not supported, we would come up with a new hypothesis. For instance, the next hypothesis might be that there's a broken wire in the toaster. In most cases, the scientific method is an iterative process. In other words, it's a cycle rather than a straight line. The result of one go- round becomes feedback that improves the next round of question asking. Questions Tips & Thanks Want to join the conversation? Log in Sort by:

Top Voted Monae P. 8 years ago Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Monae P.'s post “I thought a hypothesis wa...” I thought a hypothesis was an "if, then" statement, and not a prediction? Answer Button navigates to signup page • 8 comments Comment on Monae P.'s post “I thought a hypothesis wa...” (177 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Esther Dickey 8 years ago Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Esther Dickey's post “Well, you could consider ...” Well, you could consider it to be both. If you say, "If I do X then Y will happen" you are predicting what will happen if you do something. 6 comments Comment on Esther Dickey's post “Well, you could consider ...” (233 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page

Flag Button navigates to signup page more Show more... John C Schermerhorn 8 years ago Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to John C Schermerhorn's post “a hypothesis is supported...” a hypothesis is supported (likely correct), a theory has lots of evidence to support it. What then Makes a theory become a LAW. Such as the Law of Gravity? Only difference i see is a law has a mathematical proof. Is this a correct assumption? or what Constitutes a law? Answer Button navigates to signup page • 1 comment Comment on John C Schermerhorn's post “a hypothesis is supported...” (61 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Davin V Jones 8 years ago Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Davin V Jones's post “Theories don't become law...” Theories don't become laws. Here is a good resource for defining how these scientific concepts relate:

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http://ncse.com/evolution/education/definitions-fact-theory-law- scientific-work Comment Button navigates to signup page (90 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Show more... C.C.Guan 7 years ago Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to C.C.Guan's post “If you can't really disap...” If you can't really disapprove a hypothesis the why do teachers always say you need more evidence? Is that not disapproving? Answer Button navigates to signup page • 2 comments Comment on C.C.Guan's post “If you can't really disap...” (47 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Ivana - Science trainee 5 years ago

Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Ivana - Science trainee's post “You can never be 100% sur...” You can never be 100% sure that something is right . You can just be sure that you've followed the Scientific Method, and that your results fits somewhere in between the currently accepted theories. For example, it does not mean that you have to accept the Theory of Relativity as truth and definitive state per se , and never try to disprove it with your own idea. Comment Button navigates to signup page (2 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Show more... Midnight crow 7 years ago Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Midnight crow's post “What if one time an exper...” What if one time an experiment works and the next it does not? Answer Button navigates to signup page • 3 comments Comment on Midnight crow's post “What if one time an exper...” (27 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag

Button navigates to signup page more Emily Fung 6 years ago Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Emily Fung's post “Exactly, like others said...” Exactly, like others said if you do more experiments, then you will be sure to find out which info is credible. When I did experiments, my teacher asked us to write a summary about the results we got, so I tested out our hypothesis 3 times to find the average out of all of them, and I got pretty good info out of my experiment. I hope this helps you out! Comment Button navigates to signup page (27 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Show more... sushi 6 years ago Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to sushi's post “I've been told that the p...” I've been told that the proper way to compose a hypothesis is by using an if/then statement. But in the example above, it doesn't use an if/then statement. My question is, is there a proper way to write a hypothesis? If so, what is it? Thanks in advance:) Answer Button navigates to signup page

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• 1 comment Comment on sushi's post “I've been told that the p...” (20 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more eunbee 5 years ago Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to eunbee's post “I think that there is no ...” I think that there is no definite format to writing a hypothesis, but as you said, yes there is a 'proper' and appropriate way to writing a hypothesis. Like the article says, a hypothesis must be testable, meaning we can do experiments with it to see if it is supported or not. I think usually non-testable hypothesis are something that are not exactly 'measurable' or 'observable', such as "Many people may think that red apples are attractive". There is no accurate way of measuring if people think that red apples are attractive. Yes, an if/then statement is a very safe way to write a hypothesis. One of the things that we must be careful when writing a hypothesis is that we should not make it a conclusion (an actual 'statement'!); for instance, "Red apples cause pimples." is a conclusion that could be obtained from an experiment, while "Red apples may cause pimples" might be a hypothesis.

However, yes the best way is to write an if/then statement, because it is formatting your prediction in a very testable way. You are saying 'IF I do this..' - which is the experimental portion- that 'THEN this will happen'- which is the prediction or 'educated guess' portion. Comment Button navigates to signup page (28 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Show more... Nicholas Song 4 years ago Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Nicholas Song's post “I am using a new account ...” I am using a new account now, so I’ll ready my question. I was looking at the last step, iteration. At my school, they have taught us an extra step, which would be conclusion and analyze/share data. Could someone specify the definition of the conclusion and analyze/share data? I get the analyze/share data part, but I always get stuck on conclusions, especially so when I have to write lab reports. Answer Button navigates to signup page • 1 comment Comment on Nicholas Song's post “I am using a new account ...” (12 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page

Flag Button navigates to signup page more Ivana - Science trainee 4 years ago Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Ivana - Science trainee's post “Why do you think you get ...” Why do you think you get stuck at conclusions? Are you afraid to say what you mean? Have you ever taken Logic classes? I haven't but after quite a year it became habitual and 'easy' to conclude. Maybe you lack the theoretical part or you are just scared of those lab reports (my personal opinion but I may be wrong). Do not be afraid, and keep practicing. If you read dozens of Scientific articles you may get an idea of what 'Conclusions' look like. Also, analyze and share means what it says. Analyze the best way you can do (don't be too hard on yourself) and share with others (peers, professors, online, scicomm, etc). Good luck :D and keep asking questions :D 25 comments Comment on Ivana - Science trainee's post “Why do you think you get ...” (6 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page

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Flag Button navigates to signup page more Show more... Lauren Myers 4 months ago Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to Lauren Myers's post “here's an idea pug someth...” here's an idea pug something into the same outlet as the toaster. if thing work, toaster broken. if thing don't work, outlet broken. Answer Button navigates to signup page • 2 comments Comment on Lauren Myers's post “here's an idea pug someth...” (13 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more shawn.lawhun 4 years ago Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to shawn.lawhun's post “i thought a hypotheis was...” i thought a hypotheis was a educated gusse Answer Button navigates to signup page • 1 comment Comment on shawn.lawhun's post “i thought a hypotheis was...” (11 votes) Upvote

Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Veona 2 months ago Posted 2 months ago. Direct link to Veona's post “It can be but it is more ...” It can be but it is more likely a testable prediction. Comment Button navigates to signup page (1 vote) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Show more... Kellen Schmid 4 months ago Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to Kellen Schmid's post “Can a hypothesis be wrong...” Can a hypothesis be wrong. Answer Button navigates to signup page • Comment Button navigates to signup page (8 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page

Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Charles LaCour 4 months ago Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to Charles LaCour's post “You can't be expected to ...” You can't be expected to come up with an accurate hypothesis every time, this is why you have to do observations and/or experiments to test the hypothsis. 1 comment Comment on Charles LaCour's post “You can't be expected to ...” (8 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Show more... 23eevahj1021 7 months ago Posted 7 months ago. Direct link to 23eevahj1021's post “Can a hypothesis always b...” Can a hypothesis always be right? Answer Button navigates to signup page • 1 comment Comment on 23eevahj1021's post “Can a hypothesis always b...” (5 votes)

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Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Ken Kojima 7 months ago Posted 7 months ago. Direct link to Ken Kojima's post “A hypothesis does not alw...” A hypothesis does not always have to be correct. The scientific method aims to prove or disprove the hypothesis and continue from there. 1 comment Comment on Ken Kojima's post “A hypothesis does not alw...” (13 votes) Upvote Button navigates to signup page Downvote Button navigates to signup page Flag Button navigates to signup page more Show more... Show more comments

The scientific method

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