The scientific method is the process of science:

1. Problem

2. Hypothesis

3. Control

4. Experiment

5. Results / Analysis

6. Conclusions

Problem / Purpose

• What is your goal?
• What idea are you trying to test?
• What is the scientific question you are trying to answer?
• Can you observe / measure the physical world in the realm of your question?

State the problem or challenge clearly, and limit the assumptions or variables so you reduce or eliminate ambiguity or confusion.

The problem is a statement of a particular phenomena or operation or topic you will address and study.  Look at the problems around you and try to pick out something that interests you, and that you think you could study.

Hypothesis

The goal of a hypothesis is to help you design a good experiment

• Make a prediction regarding the outcome of your experiment.
• State the results you are predicting in measurable terms.

The hypothesis has been described as an “educated guess,” but the guess must be measurable- produce data- which you can then analyze.

Procedure

• How will you conduct the experiment to test your hypothesis?
• Be clear about the variables (elements of the experiment that change) versus your controls (elements of the experiment that do not change).
• Be very specific about how you will measure results to test your hypothesis. You should include a regular timetable for measuring results or observing the projects (for example, every hour, every day, every week).
• Your procedure should be like a recipe - another person should be able to perform your experiment following your procedure. Test this with a friend or parent to be sure you have not forgotten anything.

Control

You should have or obtain a set of data in which no experiment was performed on that set. 

Experiment

You should generate a set of data, which you analyze the results of your analysis may lead you to modify your hypothesis- and to improve your experiments!

Materials

• List all materials and equipment used.

Observations / Data / Results

• Keep a detailed journal of observations, data, and results. Your journal should contain data measurements and written notes about what you are sensing (hearing, seeing, or touching) about your experiment.
• If appropriate, photograph your project results or phases of the project to help your analysis and possibly to demonstrate your experiment on your exhibit board.

From both the experiments and the control data sets, you will receive data that you can compare.

Analysis

• Explain your observations, data, and results. Summarize what your data has shown you.
• List the main points that you have learned.
• Why did the results occur? What did your experiment prove or disprove?
• Was your hypothesis reasonable?  Can you improve or modify your hypothesis?

Conclusion

• Answer your problem / purpose statement.
• What does it all add up to? What is the value of your project?
• What further study do you recommend given the results of your experiment? What would be the next question to ask?
• If you repeated this project, what would you change?

After the analysis, you can state what your results were in comparison to your hypothesis and how this did or did not solve the problem.  The conclusion is a short summary of what happened and how this affects your knowledge, understanding and perspective.