Scientific Method
The scientific method is an idea that people use as a tool to test other ideas and determine whether or not they accurately reflect the world around us.
Steps
The first step to using the scientific method is to ask a question. These usually involve the words: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.
The second step to using the scientific method is to do background research. Has someone else already asked and answered your question? If they have, do their results align or differ with your expectations?
The third step is to construct a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a testable statement that makes a prediction about what you think will happen. An easy format to construct a hypothesis is "If I do ____ then I think ______ will happen". Try to opt for measurable results.
The fourth step is to test your hypothesis by doing an experiment. An experiment tests whether your prediction is accurate and tells you if your hypothesis is supported or not by your observations. It is important for your experiment to be a fair test. You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change only one part of the experiment at a time while keeping all other parts the same. You should also repeat your experiments several times to make sure that the first results weren't just an accident.
The fifth step is to verify that your experiment is working. Did you keep everything the same each time? Were the results the same each time? If not, what changed? Consider changes you could make to improve your experiment.
This feeds into the sixth step, which is to analyze your data and draw conclusions. Did what happened match what you said would happen? Why or why not? If not, adjust your hypothesis and try again from step three.
The last step is to communicate your results. Tell people what you learned and record your steps so that they can verify your results. Now you have created new knowledge that was not there before.