The scientific method is a logical process to arrive at the best answers to questions based on observable facts. The method will provide good answers when the following elements are used by the investigator.
1. Statement of the problem or qUestion:
A short, clear statement of the investigation problem or question must be worked out so that any observer can understand what you are doing.
Example: Can houseflies distinguish between artificial sweetener and sugar?
2. HYPOTHESIS:
This is a statement that serves as a possible explanation or answer to your problem or question. It can also serve to give direction to your investigation or experiments. Your hypothesis is to test, not to prove.
Example: If houseflies can distinguish artificial sweetener from sugar, then they will respond or behave in a different manner when fed the two substances.
3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION SEARCH:
Search the literature (books, magazines, journals) and take notes on what others have learned about your topic. Often personal interviews with experts on your subject will be of great value. You need to know a lot about your topic before you can design and carry out good investigation and experiments.
Example: Look up and take notes on houseflies and their behavior, their life cycle, the feeding mechanism of insects; learn about sugar and artificial sweeteners.
4. THE EXPERIMENT:
This is the main part of your project. A good experimental design will allow you to gather factual information on your problem and test your hypothesis. Remember, your hypothesis is to test, not to prove.
Example: Fifty houseflies were selected to be tested for 10 trials in sugar solution (10%) and 10 trials in artificial sweetener (10%). Each fly was glued to a small stick by the wings and during the trial, the flies' feet were immersed in the solutions. The observation recorded was the extension of the flies proboscises (feeding tubes) into the solution.
When setting up your experimental design, use the following guidelines:
a. Control the variables.
You must eliminate other factors that could alter or influence your results. In our example, nothing should vary but the sugar and the sweetener. Everything else should be the same: temperature, light, time of day, condition of the flies, etc.
b. Collect data.
During your experiment, you must indicate in detail what you did and how you did it, and all of your observations. The data should be quantitative where possible (how much, how high, how hot, etc.).
Example: Forty seven out of 50 flies lowered their feeding proboscis when place on sugar water, whereas 4 out of 50 flies lowered their proboscis when place on artificial sweetener "X".
c. Use as many trials or subjects as practical to eliminate any individual differences (50 flies with 10 trials).
d. Your experiment must be designed and described so that others following your procedure would get the same results.
5. ANALYSIS AND DISPLAY OF DATA
After collecting your data, it must be organized, analyzed and displayed in tables and graphs.
Example: The results of the 10 trials in sugar and 10 trials in artificial sweetener "X" should be listed on a table and the average, standard deviation, and probability should be calculated.
6. CONCLUSION
Discuss how the data (your results) compare with your hypothesis. Does the data support your hypothesis or not? You cannot change the, but you could alter or modify your hypothesis and perhaps design and run a new set of experiments.
Example: The fly experiment data support the hypothesis that houseflies can distinguish between the two substances. They appear ready to feed on the sugar, but not on the artificial sweetener.