6 Steps to Run a Scientific Experiment
Doing a scientific experiment requires a complete and correct step by step procedure in order to arrive at an accurate conclusion. This step by step procedure is what is commonly referred to as the scientific method. The scientific method allows one to see the cause and effect relationship between the variables in the experiment. In other words, by using these step by step procedures, one can see how one thing causes another thing in what is being tested or observed in the experiment.
Step 1: Ask a Question. The first step of a scientific experiment is to ask the right question. The question is very important because this will be the basis of the whole experiment. In asking a question, one must make sure that the question is clear and not vague. It is best, in fact, if the answer to the question is something that is measurable or observable.
Step 2: Research. Research means finding information about the experiment and about the question. This should include researching about facts about the question, researching about how to best conduct the experiment, researching about the necessary materials needed for the experiment and additional information that can help one arrive at an accurate conclusion. It is best to read similar experiments about the topic to gain more insights about it.
Step 3: Formulate a Hypothesis. Formulating hypothesis means developing a supposition about the question. It is different from asking a question because it is more like an educated answer to the question. The experiment shall evolve around the hypothesis as it will accept or reject the hypothesis.
Step 4: Test the Hypothesis. Testing the hypothesis is testing whether the hypothesis is correct or not. Testing the hypothesis is where one conducts the actual experimentation. This should include not just conducting the test but also observation and taking down notes on what is observed from the start to finish.
Step 5: Analyze Result. Analyzing the result means synthesizing the data gathered or observed during the testing of hypothesis. This data should then be summarized clearly so that a conclusion can be drawn from it.
Step 6: Draw a Conclusion. Drawing a conclusion means summarizing the data or the result in such a way that it will either prove the hypothesis to be true or false. If the hypothesis is proven to be false, one must conduct another hypothesis that must be tested again. If the hypothesis is proven to be true, then one must repeat the experiment to make sure that there was no error committed during the experiment.
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