The Scientific Method

There are an amazing number of people who talk about science and confuse it with technology and engineering.

Science is a method of investigating the world and how it works.

The steps of the scientific method are to:

* Ask a Question
* Do Background Research
* Construct a Hypothesis
* Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
* Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
* Communicate Your Results


As an example:

* Ask a Question
(Why did my car stop?)

* Do Background Research
(Look out the window, etc. Yeah, we're stopped.)

* Construct a Hypothesis
(We have a problem with the car)

* Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
(Check ignition switch, fuel gauge, tap on gas tank, etc.)

* Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
(Fuel gauge reads empty, gas tank sounds empty, etc. We are out of gas.)

* Communicate Your Results
(Sorry, dear, we can't go to your mother's place for the week end.)


We use the scientific method all the time. Nothing magical about it.