Scientific Method - Grass
The Scientific Method
“The "game of science" begins with the scientist 's asking questions about a particular phenomenon which he has observed. He wishes to find out how it behaves and why, in the sense of determining relationships between it and other phenomena.” (Kariel, Herbert G., 1967, California Geographer: Using the Scientific Method to Solve Geographic Problems, Vol. 8, p. 21) The scientific method is the methods used by scientists to answer questions or solve problems. There are five basic steps included in the scientific method. These steps are:
“Recognize a question or unexplained occurrence in the natural world; Develop a hypothesis, or educated guess, to explain the problem; Design and perform an experiment to test the hypothesis; analyze and interpret the data to reach a conclusion, and Share new knowledge.” (Raven, P. H., Berg, L. R., and Hassenzahl, D. M., 2008, Environment, 6th Edition., pages 15-16)
I will use this method to answer the question why the grass around my home is short, brown, and dead; while my neighbor’s lawn is green, tall, and alive.
Steps in the Scientific Method
To begin using the scientific method, the first step is realizing there is problem. The problem was noticed daily while outside, driving home, checking mail, etc. After realizing there was a problem, I began researching possible causes to difference in appearance between the two yards. This research included gardening information on how to grow green lawns and discussions with my neighbor to determine what type of care is provided on the green lawn.
After completion of this research, I was able to develop a hypothesis, which is an educated guess, to the cause of the brown, short, dead grass around my home. I was able to determine that while rain had not occurred naturally in some time, my neighbor had been watering and fertilizing his lawn. I had not. This would be considered a good prediction because it would fairly easy to prove.
The third step in the
“The "game of science" begins with the scientist 's asking questions about a particular phenomenon which he has observed. He wishes to find out how it behaves and why, in the sense of determining relationships between it and other phenomena.” (Kariel, Herbert G., 1967, California Geographer: Using the Scientific Method to Solve Geographic Problems, Vol. 8, p. 21) The scientific method is the methods used by scientists to answer questions or solve problems. There are five basic steps included in the scientific method. These steps are:
“Recognize a question or unexplained occurrence in the natural world; Develop a hypothesis, or educated guess, to explain the problem; Design and perform an experiment to test the hypothesis; analyze and interpret the data to reach a conclusion, and Share new knowledge.” (Raven, P. H., Berg, L. R., and Hassenzahl, D. M., 2008, Environment, 6th Edition., pages 15-16)
I will use this method to answer the question why the grass around my home is short, brown, and dead; while my neighbor’s lawn is green, tall, and alive.
Steps in the Scientific Method
To begin using the scientific method, the first step is realizing there is problem. The problem was noticed daily while outside, driving home, checking mail, etc. After realizing there was a problem, I began researching possible causes to difference in appearance between the two yards. This research included gardening information on how to grow green lawns and discussions with my neighbor to determine what type of care is provided on the green lawn.
After completion of this research, I was able to develop a hypothesis, which is an educated guess, to the cause of the brown, short, dead grass around my home. I was able to determine that while rain had not occurred naturally in some time, my neighbor had been watering and fertilizing his lawn. I had not. This would be considered a good prediction because it would fairly easy to prove.
The third step in the
References: Booth, Shirley. (2005) Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research: Method, Research, Science, and Methodology: Doing, acting, understanding, and committing. Jul2005, Vol. 49 Issue 3, p325-328, 4p, Retrieved on April 7, 2009 from: http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/detail?vid=10&hid=2&sid=b8457a8f-f52e-4ecc-91fa-d2c58e819c7a%40sessionmgr7&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=17485291. Kariel, Herbert G., (1967) California Geographer: Using the Scientific Method to Solve Geographic Problems, Vol. 8, p21-31, 11p, Retrieved on April 7, 2009 from: http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/detail?vid=6&hid=2&sid=b8457a8f-f52e-4ecc-91fa-d2c58e819c7a%40sessionmgr7&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=23426467 Raven, Peter H., Berg, Linda R., and Hassenzahl, David M. (2008) Environment, 6th Edition. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. University of Phoenix. (2008) The Scientific Method Case Study. Retrieved from University of Phoenix on April 3, 2009: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/classroom/ic/classroom.aspx. University of Phoenix. (2008) The Scientific Method. Retrieved from University of Phoenix on April 3, 2009: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/classroom/ic/classroom.aspx.