Scientific Design

Observation

Scientists make observations about the world around them. They notice something interesting, unusual, or something they want to learn more about. These observations can come from everyday life, reading, or even from previous experiments. An easy way to determine if something is an observation? Simply ask yourself if it is something someone can notice using their five senses

Asking a Question

Once scientists observe something, they come up with a question they want to answer. This question should be clear and specific, like “Why does the sun look bigger on the horizon?” or “How does temperature affect plant growth?

Forming a Hypothesis

A hypothesis is like a scientific guess. It’s an educated prediction that tries to answer a question. It’s based on what the scientist already knows and what they’ve observed. For example, if the question is about the sun looking bigger on the horizon, a hypothesis could be, “The sun looks bigger on the horizon because of an optical illusion caused by the Earth’s atmosphere.”

Conducting an Experiment

An experiment is a way to test a hypothesis. It’s a carefully planned and controlled test to see if a hypothesis is right or wrong. Scientists create experiments by setting up specific conditions and variables (things that can change) to see what happens. They collect data, which is information that they can use to analyze the results

Analyzing the Data

After running the experiment, scientists look at the data they’ve collected. They compare the data to their hypothesis to see if it supports their prediction (hypothesis). They might use graphs, charts, or calculations to make sense of the information

Drawing a Conclusion

Based on the data they’ve collected and analyzed, scientists can draw a conclusion. This is where they answer the original question: Is the hypothesis supported by the data? If the data supports the hypothesis, the scientist might say it’s “confirmed” or “supported.” If the data doesn’t match the hypothesis, the scientist might say it’s “refuted” or “not supported.”