Scientific Method

Defined: accepted means of scientific investigation

Steps:
I. Observation (Ask Question)
II. Hypothesis (Make a Prediction) – “If-then”
III. Experimentation (Testing Prediction)
IV. Analyze Results (Draw Conclusions)

Scientific theory – widely accepted conclusions

explaining a given phenomenon in nature
Observation
• Scientists observe all aspects of nature
• Based on these observations, questions are asked which lead to
predictions and research developed to answer these questions
Example:
• Amount of urine output in a patient is lower than normal –
observation
• Urine is yellow and odoriferous – observation
Question – Is this individual dehydrated or needs to drink more water?
Hypothesis
• Derivative of word: (Hypo = below, thesis = body of (scientific) work) –
simply put, a hypothesis is a scientific “best guess” below the level of
a thesis or before scientific work is performed
• Tentative explanation for given observations
• Must be testable and falsifiable (able to be refuted or false)
Example:
Drinking more water produces a greater amount of less concentrated
urine.
Prediction: If more water is consumed, then urine amounts are greater.
Experimentation
• Testing to verify a hypothesis
• Perform test methods or procedures – accepted scientifically
• Identification of variables
• Use of Experimental & Control groups
• Need to be random, representative (sample # needed for validity) &
repeatable (similar results with repeated testing)
• Analyze Results and draw Conclusions
= accepts or rejects hypothesis (null)
Variables
• Defined: an object or event that may differ over time – scientists measure
and change variables
Types:
Independent variable – aspect of testing changed by researcher (bold)
Ex. Amount of water consumed by test patients
Dependent variable – measured results of test, effects from the manipulated
independent variable (bold)
Ex. Amount of water or volume of urine produced by patient
Control variable – variables remaining constant during testing
Ex. Patient characteristics need to be consistent to not effect results -
demographics, diet, genetic history, etc.
Testing Groups
• Control group – standard for comparison, not exposed
to test variable
• Experimental group – display or are exposed to the
variable in question – identical to the control group
except for one variable
Example:
Control group with characteristic similarities given a
constant amount of water during testing period
Experimental group - … given varying amounts of water
Analyze Results & Draw Conclusions
• Measure amounts of urine output in experimental group compared
against control group output
• Graph data and results, perform statistical analysis on data
• Draw conclusions as to whether results either accept or reject
hypothesis (null)
Example: Results show that the more water consumed by patients the
more urine output is produced. Patients are dehydrated if they do not
consume enough water daily (compared to control group – no other
variable increases urine output as much as increased water intake)