Observations

1. Observations, experiments, and and

sometimes chance provide data for Experiments
a hypothesis
Chance
(serendipity)
2. Repeated challenges of the
Hypothesis
hypothesis by other scientists build
support or result in its rejection
7. A hypothesis, theory, or
model may be revised for
Challenges
retesting

3. A hypothesis - or multiple Supported? No Revise

hypotheses - can accumulate
enough support to become a theory

Yes
Discard

4. Theories, too, are challenged,

Theory
supported, revised, or discarded

Challenges

Supported? No Revise
5. Eventually, with enough support,
a set of hypotheses and theories
become a scientific model Yes

Discard
6. Scientific models are also Scientific Model
challenged

Challenges

8. The scientific process is ongoing, finding

and sharing new evidence to support, disprove,
or revise hypotheses, theories, and models