Scientific Method Steps

The scientific method is a method for conducting an objective investigation. The scientific method involves making observations and conducting an experiment to test a hypothesis. The number of steps of the scientific method isn't standard. Some texts and instructors break up the scientific method into more or fewer steps. Some people start listing steps with the hypothesis, but since a hypothesis is based on observations (even if they aren't formal), the hypothesis usually is considered to be the second step. Here are the usual steps of the scientific method.

Scientific Method Step 1: Make Observations

You may think the hypothesis is the start of the scientific method, but you will have made some observations first, even if they were informal.

Scientific Method Step 2: Propose a Hypothesis

It's easist to test the null or no-difference hypothesis because you can prove it to be wrong. It's practically impossible to prove a hypothesis is correct.

Scientific Method Step 3: Design an Experiment to Test the Hypothesis

Scientific Method Step 4: Test the Hypothesis

Scientific Method Step 5: Accept or Reject the Hypothesis

Scientific Method Step 6: Revise the Hypothesis (Rejected) or Draw Conclusions (Accepted)

These steps also are common:

Scientific Method Step 1: Ask a Question

Scientific Method Step 2: Make Observations and Conduct Background Research

Scientific Method Step 3: Propose a Hypothesis

Scientific Method Step 4: Design an Experiment to Test the Hypothesis

Scientific Method Step 5: Test the Hypothesis

Scientific Method Step 6: Accept or Reject the Hypothesis

Revise a Rejected Hypothesis (return to step 3) or Draw Conclusions (Accepted)