Definition

Steps

The Scientific
Method Summary

Examples
 Definition

The scientific method is a process or

sequence of activities undertaken to
gather information and to come to
conclusions about the natural world.
The Scientific
Method • questionnable occurences in nature
• everyday challenges in practical life
 1. Making Observations and Gathering Knowledge
About A Phenomenon
Steps
2. Formulation of Hypothesis
The Scientific
Method 3. Testing of Hypothesis

4. Drawing of Conclusion
 1. Making Observations and Gathering Knowledge
About A Phenomenon

A. Initial Observation (Curiosity)

Steps
Observation is the gathering of
The Scientific information, either through direct use
of the senses or with the help of tools; it
Method can reveal valuable information about
the natural world.
 1. Making Observations and Gathering Knowledge
About A Phenomenon

B. Recognition of a Problem and

Defining It

Steps
Careful observation could make
The Scientific one recognize that there is a problem
or a phenomenon that is worthy of
Method further attention and study.
 1. Making Observations and Gathering Knowledge
About A Phenomenon

C. Further Observation and Expanding

Knowledge

Steps
After the initial observations, further
The Scientific observations may be done and instrumentations
could be used to observe details not observable by
Method the unaided sense organs. Additional information
pertaining to the problem may also be taken from
various sources; literatures from books, internet
and scientists working on similar problem may be
consulted.
 2. Formulation of Hypothesis

Creative thinking is necessary to combine isolated

facts into cohesive whole, through inductive reasoning.
This type of reasoning helps scientists to use their
generalizations (based on several specific observations)
Steps
in their formulation of hypothesis.

The Scientific For example:

A person tasted a green mango and found it sour and slightly tangy to the taste
Method buds. Then he subsequently tasted 24 other mangoes and found the same result.
Based on these 25 samplings, he may then generalized that all green mangoes are
sour and tangy to the taste.

Inductive reasoning thus proceeds from several specific

observations to a generalization.
 2. Formulation of Hypothesis

Observations and inductive reasoning stimulate

us to seek natural causes and explanations for those
observations.
Steps

The Scientific Hypothesis is a tentative answer to a well-framed

Method question—an explanation on trial. It is usually a rational
accounting for a set of observations, based on the
available data and guided by inductive reasoning. The
hypothesis is presented as an actual statement and must
be testable.
 2. Formulation of Hypothesis

A type of logic called deduction is built into the use

of hypotheses in science. Deductive reasoning is generally
used after the hypothesis has been developed. In this
Steps phase, the scientist uses the “if, then” logic. Foresight or
the capability to predict what will happen next is
necessary to guide the scientist on how to go about his
The Scientific experiment.
Method For example:

After testing 25 green mangoes and finding them sour and tangy, one may predict
that the next mango he will taste will be sour and tangy.

Deductive reasoning proceeds from a generalization to specifics.

 3. Testing of Hypothesis: EXPERIMENTATION

A scientific hypothesis must lead to predictions

that can be tested by making additional observations or by
performing experiments. An experiment is a scientific
Steps test, carried out under controlled conditions

The Scientific The scientist must come up

with an experimental design
Method that will make him generate
meaningful results.

Experimental Group
Control Group
• Independent Variable
• Control
• Dependent Variable
 Control-
camouflaged
mice

Steps Independent
Variable- color
of the mice
The Scientific
Method Dependent
Variable- the
rate/amount of
predation
 3. Testing of Hypothesis

 The experiment tests whether your hypothesis is

true or not.
 It is important that the test is fair (you can only
Steps change one variable at a time, keeping all others the
same).
 The experiment should be repeated several times to
The Scientific make sure the results weren’t just an accident.
Method (Good precision= at least 3 trials)

If the experiment or observation produces a

discrepancy between the prediction and the observable
fact, then the scientist must change his hypothesis.
 4. Drawing of Conclusion

Analysis of Data Hypothesis: supported or not?

Steps

Data are the results of the experiment which may lead

The Scientific one to accept or reject the hypothesis initially
formulated. Data should be observable and objective.
Method Mathematical data are usually presented in tabulated
and graphical forms and may require statistical analysis
to confirm validity or significance.
 4. Drawing of Conclusion

Analysis of Data Hypothesis: supported or not?

Steps

A conclusion is the answer to the problem and

The Scientific based on a supported hypothesis. Science is a
progressive process such that the conclusion of one
Method experiment can lead to the hypothesis for another
experiment. The results that do not support the
hypothesis may be used by scientist to formulate
another hypothesis to be tested.
 4. Drawing of Conclusion

Publication of Results

Steps

Scientists publish the results of their

The Scientific experiments in scientific journals so that they become
Method source of information. Their methodologies and data
should be made available and the results should be
repeatable through validation studies.
 4. Drawing of Conclusion

Conclusions from many different but

related experiments may lead to the
development of a Scientific Theory, a general
Steps concept about the natural world.
Scientific Theory
The Scientific  in contrast to the use of “theory” in the ordinary speech wherein it
connotes speculative idea, scientific theory, as Theory of Evolution
Method and Cell Theory are examples of theories that has been supported by
so many observations and experiments for over 100 years.
 a hypothesis that has been repeatedly and extensively tested and
always found to be true.
 no theory in science is ever absolutely and finally proven
 hypothesis that has been supported by so many cases that few
scientist seriously doubt its validity
The Scientific
Method Summary
The Scientific
Method Summary
The Scientific
Method

Examples
 Example of the Process in Action

1. Make observations.

Doctors observe that many of their

patients who are suffering from
The Scientific tuberculosis fail to be cured by the
Method use of the medicines (antibiotics)
traditionally used to treat the disease.

Examples
 Example of the Process in Action

2. Ask questions.

 Have the drug companies modified

the antibiotics?
The Scientific  Are the patients failing to take the
Method antibiotics as prescribed?
 Has the bacterium that causes
tuberculosis changed?

Examples
 Example of the Process in Action

3. Explore other sources of information.

 Read medical journals.

 Contact the Centers for Disease
The Scientific Control and Prevention.
 Consult experts in tuberculosis.
Method  Attend medical conventions.
 Contact drug companies and ask if
their antibiotic formulation has
Examples
been changed.
 Example of the Process in Action

4. Formulate a hypothesis.

Hypothesis:
The Scientific Tuberculosis patients who fail to be
Method cured by standard antibiotics have
tuberculosis caused by antibiotic-
resistant populations of the bacterium
Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Examples
 Example of the Process in Action

5. Test the hypothesis (experimentation)

 Set up an experiment in which samples of tuberculosis bacteria

are collected from two groups of patients: those who are
responding to antibiotic therapy and those who are not
responding to antibiotic therapy.
The Scientific
 Grow the bacteria in the lab and subject them to the antibiotics
Method normally used to see if the bacteria from these two groups of
patients respond differently.

 Experiments consistently show that the patients who are not

Examples recovering have strains of bacteria that are resistant to the
antibiotic being used.
 Example of the Process in Action

6. Consult with existing scientific laws and theories

Your results are consistent with the following laws and theories:

• Mendel’s laws of heredity state that characteristics are passed from

The Scientific parent to offspring.
Method • The theory of natural selection predicts that, when populations of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis are subjected to antibiotics, the bacteria
that survive will pass on their ability to survive exposure to
antibiotics to the next generation and that the next generation will
Examples have a higher incidence of these characteristics.
 Example of the Process in Action

7. Form conclusion and communicate it.

You conclude that the antibiotics are

The Scientific ineffective because the bacteria are resistant
to the antibiotics.
Method
You write a scientific article describing the
experiment and your conclusions.
Examples