Discuss An Everyday Application of the Scientific Method

Science is a systematic method of learning about the universe that relies on logic and revolves around the notion of cause and effect. There is a great deal of variation in the specific techniques that scientists use to explore the natural world. However, the following steps characterize the majority of scientific investigations:

Step 1: Make observations which are something, event, or phenomenon that is noticed or observed

Step 2: Propose a hypothesis, which is a statement, created by the researcher as a potential explanation for an observation or phenomena. The hypothesis converts the researcher’s original question into a statement that can be used to make predictions about what should be observed if the hypothesis is true.

Step 3: Test the hypothesis in one of two ways: by making additional observations of a natural situation, or by setting up an experiment. In either case, the hypothesis is used to make predictions, and the observations or experimental data collected are examined to determine if they are consistent or inconsistent with those predictions.

Step 4: Analyze data by using statistical methods of determining whether any differences between the control group and experimental groups are too great to be attributed to chance alone.

Step 5: State conclusions about hypothesis based on data analysis.

 In this assignment I would like you to think about how you use the scientific method in your everyday life. You can use a simple example or you can go complex. It can be real or something that you made up as an example of how you would use the scientific method in your daily life.  A simple example would be something like this:

I like to eat fresh strawberry, but it is not easy to keep them fresh. Therefore, I tested different methods to slow the process of strawberry spoil. I observed that strawberries are like sponges that soak up every bit of moisture, and are the more water they soak up, the more quickly they will spoil. I hypothesized that washing strawberries with water before storing them at refrigerator can speed up strawberry spoil. To test my hypothesis, I bought two boxes of fresh strawberry from grocery store. I washed the strawberries with water in one box, and then placed the strawberries in these two boxes into my refrigerator. Three days later, I inspected the strawberries in these two boxes, I found 90% of strawberries washed with water were spoiled, but only 20% of strawberries without wash were spoiled (experiment). My hypothesis is supported by the results of the conducted experiment. In conclusion, washing strawberry with water before storing them will speed up the spoil of strawberry.  

Importantly, I included in this experiment a control that allowed me to make a comparison and conclusion about the results that I obtained. As I said, you can go simple or complex, but this is something that might happen in your everyday life.