We conduct experiments everyday
whether we are scientists or not. When we all conduct experiments we always
have a purpose in mind. Whether we have a thought out plan or not does it
really change the outcome of an experiment?
In typical science experiments
there is a general rule that states the proper way to conduct an experiment—the
Scientific Method. The scientific method consists of a few simple steps. The
steps go in chronological order and start with asking a question, then doing
background research, then constructing a hypothesis, testing a hypothesis,
analyzing results and drawing conclusions, and finally communicating the
results with others. But how often do scientists really follow this method? How
beneficial is it really? In order to find out how scientists really think and conduct
experiments I spoke with both a scientist and a science teacher who leads his
class in conducting experiments.
Scientist and professor at Bellarmine,
Bob Bernauer, told me that he always tries to use the scientific method. He
told me that his first step in any experiment is deciding exactly what
variables he wants to examine. He also aims to perfect or improve experiments
to share with his students, and revisit previous experiments to gather further
knowledge. So I was wondering though,
why does the scientific method help? I see that it can keep you organized, and
reminds you to not forget any important step, but as a student I wanted to know
more than the basic rules. Professor Bernauer explained to me that using the
scientific method helps the scientist go “beyond personal bias in interpreting
results.” I never really thought of it that way because in the past anytime I
have conducted an experiment I have been told exactly what to look for and what
to record. Having to create an experiment and collect data of your own you
would need to use the scientific method to stay on track. That is easily
supported by everything Professor Bernauer said.
After speaking to a scientist and
professor at Bellarmine I was intrigued to hear a different point of view. In
this case I reached out to my former Chemistry and Physics teacher Mr. Robert
Norton. Mr. Norton told me that he also uses the scientific method when teaching
his students and when having his students conduct their own experiments. He
said that by using the scientific method it gives students more organization to
follow and it also helps them “focus on deriving meaning out of results that
may not be evident by simply looking at raw data.” Discovering new meaning and
evidence is the premise of all of the experiment’s he has his high school
students do. He said that his initial plans always have an educational
objective and that he seeks for his students to learn something from what they
model.
I am not surprised that the
scientists I spoke with use the scientific method. I grew up learning that
organization is the key to discovering something. I think that scientists
should have a premise that they base their experiments on and I think that the
scientific method will suffice. I am sure, however, that each scientist varies
their method so that it better suits them and what they are trying to
accomplish. However, I think that using the scientific method is beneficial
when designing and conducting experiments because just as Professor Bernauer
and Mr. Norton said, it helps keep people organized, unbiased, and analytical.
