Understanding the Scientific Method

1. Define the question
2. Gather information and resources
3. Form hypothesis
4. Perform experiment and collect data
5. Analyze data
6. Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypotheses
7. Publish results

Well, we are talking about science fairs here, and as you get up in years, the judges are going to demand more and more focus on using the scientific method.

If you can show that you are following the scientific method, you are well on your way to impressing the judges.

Basically start out by defining your question and topic. After that form a hypothesis and perform your experiments. Step 6 is where you use your new data to make any new hypotheses. If you want, you can take that new hypothesis and start again from step 3, then move back to 6. Perform this cycle as much as you want. The more focused your information and experiments the better.

How about an example:

Now imagine you are doing your project on "Hot water" and we are going to follow the scientific method steps.

1. Define your question.

How about something silly, like "Will boiling water burn a person's hand?"

2. Find lots of information about hot water and learn everything you can about it.

3. Now form a hypothesis based on your research. Our hypothesis is, "A person will not suffer any burns due to contact with boiling water." Hopefully you are smart enough to know this isn't true, but let's pretend we aren't.

4. Now we do our experiements. In real life we know we will burn ourselves with boiling water, and we should never touch it! But suppose the experimenter has no idea. They run tests to see if contact with boiling water burns a person. BAD IDEA!

5. Now look at your data. Probably everyone in the experiments burned their skin during the tests. Looks like boiling water does cause burns! DUH!

6. Interpret the data. Hmm...our hypothesis was completely wrong. Our experiments showed that boiling water can cause burns.

7. Publish your results. I certainly hope you never make a project just like this, but here's your chance to show the world what happens when you touch boiling water!

Keep in mind, don't change your hypothesis because your evidence didn't agree with it. You don't get more credit for having a correct hypothesis. You get credit for following the scientific method and coming to a correct conclusion based on your data.

Don't forget to include possible reasons for experimental error.

If you follow these steps your project will make sense to anyone who views it and you have a good chance of succeeding...