Scientific Method 1

Scientific Method

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The question has presented itself: do plants grow toward their light source?

By observing plants placed near a window, it was noticed that the subjects of

inquiry grew towards the window. It was inferred that they were growing towards

the window as the light source they required for photosynthesis to make food for

themselves. It was theorized that this would happen all the time and that this was

no isolated event, and the hypothesis was formed. Plants will grow toward the light

source when the light is directional. The experiment was performed. Three plants

were placed with a light source to the left of them and three plants with a light at

their right. The sum data that took place afterward was collected. With this

information in hand, an analysis found that the leaves of the left sourced light group

had begun to grow and turn toward the light’s direction and the tops grew in the

same way. In the other group, the right light plants, the subjects lined in that

direction and the tops grew to that side as well. This data is interpreted to mean

that the direction of the light source does cause change in the plants. With this new

information, new hypotheses can be formed. Once a hypothesis has been

determined not to be false (hypotheses are never proven true), a number of

hypotheses can be made. Depending on what is to be learned, hypotheses can be

formed to reflect the query. For example, either are probable hypotheses: “How

acute an angle can be achieved naturally through light direction?” or “do the roots

of a plant grow to one side if one is always shaded?” When this information is

published or reported, other scientists will be able to replicate, retest, and arrive at

the same conclusions. This is what makes an experiment true science.

Scientific method is used in the unstructured experiments in everyday life.

Problem solving naturally follows a methodology and when implemented well, can

find the answers to the questions and obstacles that occur daily. Science can be
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used daily to explain the problems we encounter each day. Science just means that

the knowledge we possess was gathered with empirical evidence and based on

reason. Through observation and experiment, questions and answers, hypotheses

are formed and tested. A hypothesis cannot be proven true, only false.

In my personal life, my problem was readily defined, “What is the best way to

get to work?” Just as with scientists before me, my question came from a problem I

had that needed fixing. I was tired of waking up early! The information I gathered

was first and second hand. I read up on what experts (MapQuest, Yahoo! Maps) had

to say on the subject. I also noted which routes I was taking. It wasn’t science at

the time. I just needed my problem fixed. I wanted to get to work in fifteen minutes

or less. That was my desired result, and I used it to form my hypothesis. If I took

the service road not the highway and the main street exit not the side road, then I

would get to work in fifteen minutes. I analyzed the information I had the route I

chose worked. Based on this, I used the information I had learned to form new

hypotheses. Eating breakfast in the car allows ten more minutes in bed. Taking a

shower after breakfast wastes less time. Each one could have its own experiment

until I found exactly what I want to find out. I published my results by talking with

others. One coworker lives in my neighborhood. He replicated the experiment and

found the route good for him as well, a scientific success. All of these individual

steps took place without provocation from any science book. No one had to tell me

how the scientific method worked. Even without trying I had completed each step

before arriving at my conclusion.

With these two examples, it is easy to see how the scientific method grew

and evolved into what it is today. Using my real-life example adapted to be

explained into the scientific method and the plant experiment actually performed
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specifically as scientific method delineates, I gained better understanding of its

importance. In the future I will be more likely to look to the scientific method to

solve more of my daily life problems, which is, of course, how most science comes

about.
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Reference Page

Scientific Method. (23 November 2008) Wikipedia. Retrieved December 21, 2008,

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

Stein Carter, J. (12 August 2000). The Scientific Method. Retrieved December 21,

2008, http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/sci_meth.htm