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Scientific Method Quiz

Understanding the Scientific Method and Experiments

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• forming a hypothesis.
• making observations.
• performing an experiment.
• predicting the result of an experiment.
• educated guess
• You can accept or reject a hypothesis, but never truly prove it to be true.
• You can prove a hypothesis to be true.
• Accepting or rejecting a hypothesis is the same as proving whether or not the hypothesis is true.
• A scientific experiment always yields correct information.
• Data and Results are two names for the same thing.
• Data are the facts you collect from your experiment, while Results are your interpretation of what the data means.
• It is easier to specify and test for a difference between two outcomes.
• The null hypothesis, because it is easier to show something is false than to demonstrate it's true.
• Yes, the hypothesis could still be incorrect.
• No, a high degree of statistical probability basically proves a hypothesis.
• There can be differences between control group and test groups, but not several or the experiment is invalid.
• The control group and the test groups may have several differences between them.
• The control group is identical to each test group except for one variable.
• Your experiment may well have been a success! After all, you were probably testing the null hypothesis.
• Rejecting the hypothesis makes your experiment a failure.
• If your hypothesis is rejected, then your experiment was poorly designed.
• the experiment was a failure.
• you should explore the possible reasons for this in the 'conclusions' section of your experimental write-up.
• you need to redo your experiment until you get the expected result.
• you didn't follow the scientific method.

This quiz gave you some trouble, but if you brush up on the steps of the scientific method and the difference between laws and theories, you'll be ready to design your own experiments.

Are you ready for another quiz? See how well you know science trivia facts  or whether you can perform basic metric conversions .

Good job! You answered several of the scientific method quiz questions correctly. You just need to fine tune your skills to move from lab assistant material to becoming someone ready to design excellent original experiments.

The next step might be reviewing different types of variables and how to propose a good hypothesis .

Do you want to try another quiz? See how much you know about atoms  or whether you can tell real and fake elements apart .

Good work! You did very well on the scientific method quiz. You understand the steps of the method and how experimental data can be used to develop scientific theories and laws.

Would you like to try another quiz? Let's see how safe you are in a science lab.

If you're ready to try an experiment, apply the scientific method to determine whether ethylene really affects how quickly fruit ripens .

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Steps of the Scientific Method 2

The scientific method is a system scientists and other people use to ask and answer questions about the natural world. In a nutshell, the scientific method works by making observations, asking a question or identifying a problem, and then designing and analyzing an experiment to test a prediction of what you expect will happen. It’s a powerful analytical tool because once you draw conclusions, you may be able to answer a question and make predictions about future events.

These are the steps of the scientific method:

• Make observations.

Sometimes this step is omitted in the list, but you always make observations before asking a question, whether you recognize it or not. You always have some background information about a topic. However, it’s a good idea to be systematic about your observations and to record them in a lab book or another way. Often, these initial observations can help you identify a question. Later on, this information may help you decide on another area of investigation of a topic.

• Ask a question, identify a problem, or state an objective.

There are various forms of this step. Sometimes you may want to state an objective and a problem and then phrase it in the form of a question. The reason it’s good to state a question is because it’s easiest to design an experiment to answer a question. A question helps you form a hypothesis, which focuses your study.

• Research the topic.

You should conduct background research on your topic to learn as much as you can about it. This can occur both before and after you state an objective and form a hypothesis. In fact, you may find yourself researching the topic throughout the entire process.

• Formulate a hypothesis.

A hypothesis is a formal prediction. There are two forms of a hypothesis that are particularly easy to test. One is to state the hypothesis as an “if, then” statement. An example of an if-then hypothesis is: “If plants are grown under red light, then they will be taller than plants grown under white light.” Another good type of hypothesis is what is called a “ null hypothesis ” or “no difference” hypothesis. An example of a null hypothesis is: “There is no difference in the rate of growth of plants grown under red light compared with plants grown under white light.”

• Design and perform an experiment to test the hypothesis.

Once you have a hypothesis, you need to find a way to test it. This involves an experiment . There are many ways to set up an experiment. A basic experiment contains variables, which are factors you can measure. The two main variables are the independent variable (the one you control or change) and the dependent variable (the one you measure to see if it is affected when you change the independent variable).

• Record and analyze the data you obtain from the experiment.

It’s a good idea to record notes alongside your data, stating anything unusual or unexpected. Once you have the data, draw a chart, table, or graph to present your results. Next, analyze the results to understand what it all means.

• Determine whether you accept or reject the hypothesis.

Do the results support the hypothesis or not? Keep in mind, it’s okay if the hypothesis is not supported, especially if you are testing a null hypothesis. Sometimes excluding an explanation answers your question! There is no “right” or “wrong” here. However, if you obtain an unexpected result, you might want to perform another experiment.

• Draw a conclusion and report the results of the experiment.

What good is knowing something if you keep it to yourself? You should report the outcome of the experiment, even if it’s just in a notebook. What did you learn from the experiment?

How Many Steps Are There?

You may be asked to list the 5 steps of the scientific method or the 6 steps of the method or some other number. There are different ways of grouping together the steps outlined here, so it’s a good idea to learn the way an instructor wants you to list the steps. No matter how many steps there are, the order is always the same.

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2 thoughts on “ steps of the scientific method ”.

You raise a valid point, but peer review has its limitations. Consider the case of Galileo, for example.

That’s a good point too. But that was a rare limitation due to religion, and scientific consensus prevailed in the end. It’s nowhere near a reason to doubt scientific consensus in general. I’m thinking about issues such as climate change where so many people are skeptical despite 97% consensus among climate scientists. I was just surprised to see that this is not included as an important part of the process.

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Scientific Method

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What step does every scientific experiment begin with?

question/problem

• 2. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt The summary at the end of an experiment that explains the results.  conclusion procedures materials responding variable
• 3. Multiple Choice Edit 20 seconds 1 pt A series of steps used by scientists to solve a problem or answer a question.  scientific method recipe data collection metric system
• 4. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt What is a hypothesis? A hypothesis is the right answer to an experiment. A hypothesis is the wrong answer to an experiment. A hypothesis is an educated guess. I don't know.
• 5. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt When making an observation, you must use... Only Sight Smell & Touch ALL 5 Senses Only Taste
• 6. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt During this step of the scientific method, a scientist would gather background information.  Hypothesis Research Observation Experiment 
• 7. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt This step of the scientific method is an educated guess or a prediction.  Hypothesis Research Observation Conclusion

List the Scientific Process steps in order.

Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Data, Conclusion

Conclusion, Observation, Experiment, Data, Hypothesis

Observation, Experiment, Hypothesis, Conclusion, Data, Question

None of the above

• 13. Multiple Choice Edit 1 minute 1 pt What is using your 5 senses (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting when appropriate) along with the right tools to gather information called? hypothesizing communicating observing questioning
• 15. Multiple Choice Edit 45 seconds 1 pt What is an inference?  Just a guess. A statement based off of your observations.  The same as an observation.  Examples of something. 

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What is the scientific method?

Published November 19, 2021. Updated December 13, 2021.

Time and again, scientists have utilized the scientific method to learn about the observable universe. The scientific method is an approach adopted by scientists to find rational solutions to problems under study. The scientific method forms the basis for the development of scientific theories, which essentially explain the observational (existential) laws in a scientific and logical manner. The scientific method ensures the precision, reliability, and validity of the research. The processes of observing, making testable predictions (hypotheses), experimental investigation and analysis, and developing theories are the components of the scientific method and are not confined to any one field of science.

Building blocks of the scientific method

As a researcher, it is important to understand that simply making an observation and providing an explanation for it without sufficient scientific data to back said explanation can result in theories that  may be proved to be incorrect in the long run. For example, the theory of heliocentrism (which claimed that the Sun revolves around the Earth) and the flat Earth theory have both been proven wrong as research which followed the principles of sound research demonstrated that the Earth revolves around the Sun and that the earth isn’t flat.

So how do you then test or verify your explanation for an observation? This can be achieved using the scientific method. The scientific method enables scientists to design and execute experiments, use data to reach conclusions, and analyze them in an organized and systematic manner.

Let’s have a look at the components of the scientific method:

1) Observation/ Define a question : Observing things prompts scientists to question why something is the way it is. This provides for a question (or problem) which they can investigate and look for ways to answer with their research.

2) Construct a hypothesis : A hypothesis, or a testable statement, can be formulated based on the observations and research of a scientist. The hypothesis enables the scientists to make a prediction as to the outcome of an investigation.

3) Test hypothesis with an experiment : The validity of a hypothesis can be proven only with evidence. Strategies such as observing the natural world, performing laboratory experiments, running simulations, or models can be used by scientists to gather data. Replication of data is ensured so that other scientists can assess their results.

4 ) Analyze the data : This component involves the organization of the data collected into tables or their representation as graphs and charts. This helps establish patterns and relationships between the variables of the hypothesis being tested.

5) Draw a conclusion : Based on generated data, the scientists assess if the evidence supports the hypothesis. If the results are do not support the hypothesis, they may propose an alternative explanation.

Successfully utilizing the scientific method

It is important to understand that simply knowing and implementing the elements of the scientific method a is not sufficient to ensure quality research. You need to make sure that the various components of the scientific method are sound enough to yield accurate and precise results, by minimizing errors in the different components of the scientific method. Let’s see how this can be done.

1) Frame a good question : A good scientific question is one whose answers can be obtained using direct observations or scientific tools. It needs to ask a specific question that can be answered and should attempt to eliminate bias or opinion.  In short, a good scientific question is measurable and controllable. For example:

Bad Question: Does eating fast food cause weight gain?

This question only affords a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as an answer. It does not provide you with any quantifiable entity.

Good Question: How does the consumption of trans fat in food affect the health of a   person?

This question, being more specific while related to the same topic, helps you get detailed answers instead of vague opinions. It further requires you to collect data relevant to your study instead of just weights as in the example of the bad question.

2) Nature of hypothesis : A good hypothesis should be simple and testable, i.e., it should describe a relationship between variables that can be tested and validated. For example:

Bad Hypothesis: Some students get better grades than others on a math exam.

The above cannot be described as a hypothesis but only an observation. Further, it is not testable.

Good Hypothesis: Students who study more before a math exam gets better grades

This hypothesis establishes a relationship between the amount of studying before the test and the grade the student received. Therefore, the effect of changing the amount of study (independent variable) on the grade earned (dependent variable) can be tested.

3) Quality of experiment : Various factors influence the quality of an experiment. Some of them are listed below:

• Sample size : When the experiment is performed using a large sample, the hypothesis can be generalized, making it applicable to a larger population.
• Control experiment : A test experiment which is run keeping all variables constant and acts as a comparison standard for other similar experiments.
• Single independent variable : When testing a hypothesis, the effect of only one independent variable on the dependent variable should be considered. If two independent variables are altered simultaneously, the result obtained with respect to the dependent variable may be misleading or ambiguous since you may not know which of the two independent variables influenced the outcome.
• Bias : The experiment should be kept free from bias arising due to the views of the researcher as well as external factors such as climatic conditions (like temperature and pressure) or place and time of the study.

4) Reproducibility of data : Obtaining results which can be regenerated by other researchers is essential to a good scientific method as it imparts transparency to work conducted and allows other scientists to understand the work presented.

Data collection

Collection of data is vital to the scientific method irrespective of the field of research. It is the process of gathering and measuring information on study variables aiding you to answer questions and evaluate outcomes. Data collection is governed by a few aspects such as:

• Data Recording : Data can be recorded by multiple methods such as interviews, surveys, documents, and records, or by performing experiments in a lab.
• Data storage : Data can be stored in electronic or paper form.
• Data representation : Data should be represented in visual forms such as tables, graphs, or charts which can help in establishing trends and relationships between variables.
• a) Qualitative data : It is non-numerical data that focuses on natural phenomena such as thoughts, attitudes, preferences, opinions, quality, or characteristics. Such data is collected when you want to gain in-depth knowledge about a concept. Social sciences usually employ this kind of data. Food preferences of teenagers, type of plants in a neighborhood, and eye colors of a class of students are examples of qualitative data.
• b) Quantitative data : It is the numerical data obtained by measuring the aspects of the real world in quantifiable terms. Such data is collected when you want to test or validate a theory. Hard sciences such as chemistry, physics, and mathematics use quantitative data. Distance of planets from the Sun, height, and weight of a class of first-graders, or average rainfall in different states of a country are examples of quantitative data.
• Data accuracy and repeatability : Using reliable data sources and performing proper data analysis ensures data accuracy. Precision and reliability of results are obtained by data repeatability. Both these factors prevent the researcher from making misleading or incorrect conclusions.
• a) Inductive analysis : A set of empirical observations is used to seek a pattern in order to propose a theory. This method allows you to make broad generalizations.
• Peter, Michael and Robert like ice cream.
• They are students of a class.
• Therefore, all students of the class like ice cream.
• b) Deductive analysis : A theory is utilized to formulate a hypothesis that is tested by collecting and analyzing data. This method helps you to make specific logical conclusions. For example
• All students in the class like ice cream.
• Peter is a student in the class.
• Therefore, Peter likes ice cream.

Applying the scientific method in the real world

Now that you are familiar with the components of the scientific method, it would appear that with a little deliberation and observation, the problems of daily life provide a chance to use the scientific method. For example, a person notices a plant in their balcony with  leaves that are starting to turn yellow. How do they explain this observation?

Why do we need the scientific method?

One of the goals of scientists is to explain more and more observed phenomenon and to have confidence in their explanations. The scientific method provides them with an objective, standardized approach to investigate and research, and methods to present their data for evaluation and peer review. Adopting a scientific method enables scientists to achieve the goals of description, prediction, and explanation, which are essential to well-rounded research. Additionally, the scientific method aids scientists in attaining reproducibility and limits influences due to bias or the experimenter’s preconceived notions, leading to improved results.  Furthermore, the scientific method can be used to study all kinds of problems such as human behavior, medicine, biological organisms, chemical compounds, and even everyday problems. Hence, the scientific method ensures that everyone (students, chemists, biologists, geologists, marketing personnel, or office-goers) using it learns to think, apply knowledge, solve problems, and make logical decisions.

Key takeaways

• The scientific method provides an organized and structured approach to problem-solving by conducting experiments and analyzing results which help generate rational solutions.
• A good hypothesis should be falsifiable, e., it can either be proved or disproved by drawing a relation between two different variables.
• In order to receive fair and accurate results, the researcher should ensure all data is collected and analyzed, not just the data that support the hypothesis.
• Qualitative data, or non-numerical data, provides a deep understanding of a topic. Quantitative data, or numerical data, help in validating a theory and reaching a reasonable conclusion.
• Theories can be proposed using inductive analysis as it enables making broad generalizations. The deductive analysis allows making definite and rational conclusions.

Research Basics

For more details, visit these additional research guides .

Types of Research

• What is research
• What is the scientific method
• Scientific method observation
• Inductive and deductive reasoning
• What is empirical evidence
• Research methods
• Qualitative research design
• Quantitative research design
• Qualitative vs quantitative research
• Mixed methods research

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