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[[Image:Scisteps.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Flow chart illustrating the steps to the Scientific Method]]

[[File:ScientificMethodflowchart.jpg|450px|right|thumb|Flow chart illustrating the steps to the Scientific Method]]

The '''scientific method''' is an ideal process which many [[scientist]]s recommend.

The '''scientific method''' is the ideal process by which [[scientist]]s say [[scientific research]] should be conducted.<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. Exploring Creation With General Science.</ref>  It is a standardized process which involves asking questions, searching for answers, guessing a possible answer called a [[hypothesis]], and then evaluating that hypothesis by [[experiment]]s in a specific, rigid fashion. Most articles in scientific journals are formatted according to its steps.

[[Science]] is an active process where [[knowledge]] continues to grow as scientists ask better questions and use improved [[technology]] to try to answer those questions. Although new technology can lead to better science, technology alone is not good science. Good science is the result of asking good questions.

[[Science]] is an active process where systematic descriptions of reality continue to accumulate as scientists ask questions and use improved experiments and analysis to answer those questions. The goal of the scientific method is to test the validity of a [[hypothesis]] - a proposed description of reality. It is not a set of directions for making original discoveries and it does not set out the means that scientists must use in order for their research to succeed. The whole point is to compare the hypothesis with the [[fact]]s.

Hans Storch wrote:

 

 

[[Hans Storch]] wrote:

:Data must be accessible to adversaries; joint efforts are needed to agree on test procedures to validate, once again, already broadly accepted insights.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/23/von-storch-op-ed-in-the-wsj-climategate-reveals-a-concerted-effort-to-emphasize-scientific-results-useful-to-a-political-agenda/ Hans Storch op-ed in WSJ]</ref>

:Data must be accessible to adversaries; joint efforts are needed to agree on test procedures to validate, once again, already broadly accepted insights.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/23/von-storch-op-ed-in-the-wsj-climategate-reveals-a-concerted-effort-to-emphasize-scientific-results-useful-to-a-political-agenda/ Hans Storch op-ed in WSJ]</ref>

==Steps of the Scientific Method==

==Steps of the Scientific Method==

Although by no means conclusive, the following steps are used by a majority of scientists in their work:

Although by no means conclusive, the following steps are used by a majority of scientists in their work:<ref>[http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/PHY_LABS/AppendixE/AppendixE.html]</ref>

 

====1. Observation====

===Observation===

The scientist observes something interesting, and he wants to know how it happened.  He lays down the basic questions as to what is responsible for the phenomena he observed, and from there begins to form his hypothesis.

The scientist observes something interesting, and he wants to know how it happened.  He lays down the basic questions as to what is responsible for the phenomena he observed, and from there begins to form his hypothesis.

In asking these questions scientists also look for research that has already been done on their topic to determine if they are duplicating a past experiment, doing something new, or building on a previous experiment.  Such research, although tedious and time-consuming, simply builds on the knowledge yet to be gained by the scientist’s questions.  

In asking these questions scientists also look for research that has already been done on their topic to determine if they are duplicating a past experiment, doing something new, or building on a previous experiment.  Such research, although tedious and time-consuming, simply builds on the knowledge yet to be gained by the scientist’s questions.  

====2. Hypothesis====

===Hypothesis===

A hypothesis is a statement of what the researcher thinks will happen in the experiment.  This is usually an educated guess using current theory and has to be testable and observable.

A hypothesis is a statement of what the researcher thinks will happen in the experiment.  This is usually an educated guess using current theory and has to be testable and observable. It is a common mistake to let one's own [[scientific bias]] stop the process at this point, on the assumption that the idea is so logical that it needs no testing.<ref>[http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/PHY_LABS/AppendixE/AppendixE.html]</ref>

====3. Experiment====

===Prediction===

When designing the experiment, the researcher carefully controls as many [[variable]]s as possible. In most experiments there is a control group and a treatment group. The two groups are as similar as possible, but the treatment group is the one that experiences the variable the researcher is studying.

When designing the experiment, the researcher carefully controls as many [[variable]]s as possible. In most experiments there is a control group and a treatment group. The two groups are as similar as possible, but the treatment group is the one that experiences the variable the researcher is studying.

====4. Conclusion====

===Testing===

[[Image:Muybridge horse .jpg|right|200px|thumb]]

[[Image:Muybridge horse .jpg|right|200px|thumb]]

[[Image:Muybridge horse animated.gif|right|200px|thumb|Photographic study of a horse galloping (top) and its animated sequence, by Eadweard Muybridge, 1887.]]

[[Image:Muybridge horse animated.gif|right|200px|thumb|Photographic study of a horse galloping (top) and its animated sequence, by Eadweard Muybridge, 1887.]]

Scientists may be influenced by their world-views to look for certain results that fit a preconception. The test of objectivity and rigor imposed on their work by the need for other scientists to replicate it tends to make the truth-seeking facility of the scientific method prevail in the long run,<ref>Wolfs, Frank L. H.?, [http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html Introduction to the Scientific Method]</ref> although this is difficult where the world-view is widespread.

Scientists may be influenced by their world-views to look for certain results that fit a preconception. The test of objectivity and rigor imposed on their work by the need for other scientists to replicate it tends to make the truth-seeking facility of the scientific method prevail in the long run,<ref>Wolfs, Frank L. H.?, [http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html Introduction to the Scientific Method]</ref> although this is difficult where the world-view is widespread.

==Links==

==Links==

*[http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/sci_meth.htm The Scientific Method, from Clermont College]

*[http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/sci_meth.htm The Scientific Method, from Clermont College]

*[http://teacher.nsrl.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html Introduction to the Scientific Method]

*[http://teacher.nsrl.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html Introduction to the Scientific Method]

*[http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_scientific_method.shtml Science Buddies.org]

*[http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_scientific_method.shtml Science Buddies.org]

*[http://www.biology4kids.com/files/studies_scimethod.html Biology for Kids]

*[http://www.biology4kids.com/files/studies_scimethod.html Biology for Kids]

*[http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/plantgrowth/reference/Scientific_Method.html Example of the Scientific Method used, from NASA]

*[https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/plantgrowth/reference/Scientific_Method.html Example of the Scientific Method used, from NASA]

*[http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/sci_meth.htm]

*[http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/sci_meth.htm]

==References==

==References==

*Campbell, Reece, Taylor, Simon, et al. ''Biology: Concepts and Connections'' 5th edition; Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ (2005)

*Campbell, Reece, Taylor, Simon, et al. ''Biology: Concepts and Connections'' 5th edition; Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ (2005)

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[[category:science]]

[[Category:Science]]

[[Category:Methodology of Science]]