The Scientific Method

1. Simon Hughes and Miaoqi Zhu The Scientific Method 26 slides total (minus title slide) 26 slides total (minus title slide)

2. What is Science? Origin: Comes from the Latin word �scienta� � to know Mirriam Webster: a: Knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through�the scientific method b�:�such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its�phenomena�: Natural Science

3. The Scientific Method The process by which scientists acquire a systematic and reliable body of knowledge about the world. Often described in 4 steps: Characterizations\Observations. Definition of the problem from what is already known. This could take the form of observations that cannot be explained using existing scientific knowledge, or the identification of a gap in our current knowledge that needs filling. Formulate a Hypothesis. Develop a testable hypothesis that could explain the problem and provide a solution. Make Predictions. What logically follows if 3 is true? What would disprove 3? Experiment. Design and conduct some experiments to test the consequences of your hypothesis stated in 3. Do the data support or reject the hypothesis?

4. Real-Life Example We use the scientific method in our daily lives, we just don�t know it . For example: your car breaks down: Characterizations\Observations: Your car won�t start Formulate a Hypothesis: Maybe my battery is dead (one of many possible explanations) � Often you want to start with the most likely hypothesis Make Predictions: If my battery is dead, then my lights and car radio also won�t work Experiment: Try the headlights. They don�t work. Try the radio. It doesn�t work. Thus it is likely my battery is dead Solution: Replace the battery. Often the results of the experiment lead to a solution to the problem, prompt further experiments. Once you answer one question, you are often left with many more unanswered questions.

5. Scientific Example � Discovery of DNA�s Structure Note that Watson and Crick didn�t discover DNA, rather they determined it�s double-helical structure Characterizations\Observations : Significance of the gene was known, but the structure of DNA was not Formulate a Hypothesis : Crick and Watson hypothesized that the gene had a helical structure Make Predictions: Crick formulates the transform of a helix showing an X- shape Experiment : (1953) Primed by Crick�s transformation, Watson sees an X shape in Photo-51 (an X-ray diffraction image of the DNA molecule) Class Exercise: An other example

6. The Scientific Method � Broken Down Research an area of interest to you Define the question Gather information and resources (observe) Form a hypothesis Perform experiments and collect data Analyze and Interpret data, and draw conclusions Define future work that follows on from your experiments Publish results Retest (frequently done by other scientists) There is an iterative process inherent in this approach that goes from steps 3 to 7