The Scientific Method



Running header: THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Why the Dead Grass? The Scientific Method

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Why the Scientific Method?

Why is science so important in understanding how to solve problems? “In all thinking we are concerned with getting and organizing knowledge, or with testing, applying, and developing the knowledge we have already acquired” (Jones, 1909, p. 1). Scientists not only define facts and figures for other people to use but these scientists enter into a process of evaluating the problem and identifying various solutions based on tests. Different methods can be used to identify a problem, the steps needed to arrive at a solution, and how such a solution will positively impact the scientific community. In examining these steps, a person who is noticing his or her grass is dying while the neighbor’s grass is green and growing.

What is the Scientific Method?

“The series of steps that scientists use to answer questions and solve problems is often called the scientific method” (Holt Science and Technology, 2009). The five steps of the scientific method involve problem recognition, hypothesis development, experiment design and implementation, conclusion formation based on data analysis, and peer communication of results. The scientific method is not a linear process and often involves trial and error in the development of hypotheses and some experiments yield no results. Often, science finds contradictions to earlier confirmations and these contradictions causes changes to scientific fact. In reviewing the steps, the scientist can examine the issue of the grass dying and formulate a hypotheses based on experimentation and inquiry.

Recognize a Question or Problem

The first step in the process is identifying the problem. “First, information, or data, is gathered by careful observation of the phenomenon being studied” (“Science,” 2007). In the case of the dead grass, what is causing the grass to die while the neighbor has success with his or her lawn? In viewing the lawn, the scientist wonders if he or she over-watered the lawn, thereby killing the grass and washing away nutrient-rich soil. In observing the neighbor, he or she could make inferences about the over-watering of his or her own yard. Thus, the observation would be that the neighbor waters his or her lawn at different times of the day and, as such, the lawn is green and growing.

Develop a Hypothesis

The hypothesis is defined as “an empirically tested proposition” (Lastrucci, 1963, p. 55). The hypothesis is developed from the question or problem and allows the scientist to examine methods of answering his or her initial question. The question concerning the grass would be constructed as: Is there indeed a method of watering the lawn that causes the grass to die? Is there a method of watering the lawn that will cause the grass to grow and flourish? These questions will lead to the hypothesis “If I watered my lawn for longer, then my grass would not die.” The next step is designing the experiment to test the hypothesis.

Designing and Performing Experiments

“Measurement plays an important role, and when possible the scientist attempts to test his theories by carefully designed and controlled experiments that will yield quantitative rather than qualitative results” ("Science," 2007). Since the grass on the scientist’s lawn is all dead, maybe he or she can ask the neighbor to use a part of their lawn for experimentation. Dividing the segment of lawn into various sections, to test several different watering techniques, will allow the scientist to gather more conclusive results from the experiment. The scientist would divide the soil into two foot segments, as the neighbor allowed him or her to use a 12 foot section of the neighbor’s yard. In performing the tests, the scientist would allow the same amount of sunlight and air at all sections of the segment of lawn but water the segments for one minute, five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen minutes, 30 minutes, and one hour. In watering the lawn, the scientist will perform the next step in the scientific method, analyzing data and forming conclusions.

Analyze Data and Form Conclusions

When analyzing the data obtained from watering the different sections of the segment of lawn for various lengths of time, the scientist discovers that the grass died in the sections watered for one minute, five minutes, ten minutes, and 15 minutes. The patch of lawn watered for 30 minutes was greener and thicker but the patch of lawn watered for one hour was lush and green. In analyzing this data, the scientist realizes the grass was not watered for long enough to keep the sun from scorching the lawn during the heat of the day. In addition, the soil in the scientist’s yard did not contain enough moisture to provide nourishment to the grass.

Sharing Knowledge

In examining the data, the conclusion reached is that inadequate watering resulted in the scientist’s lawn dying. Thus, the hypothesis that inadequate watering causes grass to die is a plausible hypothesis. One problem with the lawn dying is many factors could contribute to grass not growing or outright dying, including too much sunlight, not enough sunlight, different pH levels, and not using fertilizer. In the previous use of the scientific method, the scientist did conclude inadequate watering contributes to dead grass and communicates this finding to his or her peers through the use of a leading scientific journal. The method of publishing his or her findings in a scientific journal provides the scientist with a credible forum for identifying his or her beliefs about one reason behind dead grass. Scientists in the field would read the journal and could possibly test the scientist’s hypothesis to see if they could disprove said hypothesis.

The Scientific Method Revisited

Science is the use of methods and techniques in finding solutions for problems and identifying opportunities. The scientific method provides a set of five steps that allow the scientist to formulate a question from an observed problem, formulate a hypothesis based on the initial findings, conduct experiments to prove or disprove the hypothesis, analyze the findings and provide conclusions, and communicate such findings to colleagues in the scientific community. In examining the dead grass, the scientist concluded one possible cause of dead grass is insufficient watering techniques and proved his or her conclusions. Without the use of the scientific method, scientists could not properly conclude the answers to questions and would not communicate their findings to the science community.

References

Holt Science and Technology. (2009). Science Fair Guide: Resources for Students. Retrieved January 29, 2009, from the Web site:

Jones, A. L. (1909). Logic, Inductive and Deductive: An Introduction to Scientific Method. New York: Henry Holt. Retrieved January 29, 2009, from Questia database:

Science. (2007). In The Columbia Encyclopedia (6th ed.). New York: Columbia University Press. Retrieved January 29, 2009, from Questia database:

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