The Scientific Method
The following is a review of the Scientific Method with some key questions
and directions on how to design and conduct an experiment.
Problem/Purpose
 | What is your goal? |
| What idea are you trying to test? |
| What is the scientific question you are trying to answer? |
Hypothesis
| Explain how you think your project can demonstrate your purpose. |
| Make a prediction regarding the outcome of your experiment. |
| State the results you are predicting in measurable terms. |
Procedure
| Give a detailed explanation of how you will conduct the experiment to test your hypothesis. |
| Be clear about the variables (elements of the experiment that change to test your hypothesis) versus your controls (elements of the experiment that do not change). |
| Be very specific about how you will measure results to prove or disprove your hypothesis. You should include a regular timetable for measuring results or observing the projects (for example, every hour, every day, every week). |
| Your procedure should be like a recipe - Another person should be able to perform your experiment following your procedure. Test this with a friend or parent to be sure you have not forgotten anything. |
Materials
| List all materials and equipment that were used. |
| Your list of materials should include all of the ingredients of the procedure recipe. |
Observations/Data/Results
| Keep a detailed journal of observations, data, and results. Your journal should contain data measurements and written notes about what you are sensing (hearing, seeing, or touching) about your experiment. |
| If appropriate, photograph your project results or phases of the project to help your analysis and possibly to demonstrate your experiment on your exhibit board. |
Analysis
| Explain your observations, data, and results. This is a summary of what your data has shown you. |
| List the main points that you have learned. |
| Why did the results occur? What did your experiment prove? |
| Was your hypothesis correct? Did your experiment prove or disprove your hypothesis? This should be explained thoroughly. |
Conclusion
| Answer your problem/purpose statement. |
| What does it all add up to? What is the value of your project? |
| What further study do you recommend given the results of your experiment? What would be the next question to ask? |
| If you repeated this project, what would you change? |