The scientific method

The scientific method is a system of exploring the world around us, asking and answering questions, and making predictions. It is a method that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting of systematic observation, measurement, experiment and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.

Scientists use the scientific method because it is objective and based on evidence, unlike intuitive, philosophical or religious methods for acquiring knowledge, the scientific method relies on empirical, repeatable tests to reveal the truth.

There are several ways to break down the steps of the scientific method, but it always involves forming a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and determining whether or not the hypothesis is correct.

As mentioned, the number of steps varies from one description to another,but this is a fairly standard list of 6 scientific method steps:
- Observation
- Question
- Hypothesis
- Experiment
- Data/Analysis
- Conclusion

Observation:
The first step of the scientific method involves making an observation about something that interests you, This step could also be called "research." It is the first stage in understanding the problem.

Question :
The scientific method carries on by asking a specific question about what you observed : How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?

Hypothesis :

The hypothesis is a key component of the scientific process. It is an educated guess about the answer to your specific question. You should be able to test your hypothesis through experimentation, A good hypothesis allows you to then make a prediction.

Experiment:

Design and perform an experiment to test your hypothesis. An experiment has an independent and dependent variable. You change or control the independent variable and record the effect it has on the dependent variable.

Data analysis:

Record observations and analyze what the data means. Using a table or a graph of the data is often needed.

Conclusion:

This is where a determination is reached about the hypothesis. Did the experiment support or reject your hypothesis? If your hypothesis was supported, great. If not, repeat the experiment or think of ways to improve your procedure.

However sometimes a failing hypothesis will be your conclusion, and the result will be that you disproved the hypothesis, a concept that has been summed up beautifully by Thomas Huxley:

"The great tragedy of science - the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact”

Even though we show the scientific method as a series of steps, keep in mind that new information or thinking might cause a scientist to back up and repeat steps at any point during the process. A process like the scientific method that involves such backing up and repeating is called an iterative process. In other words, the scientific method is a cycle rather than a straight line. The result of one go-round becomes feedback that improves the next round of question asking.

References:
oxforddictionaries
Chemistry.about
Biology.about
Sciencebuddies
Khanacedemy