The Scientific Method in Everyday Life

Often in our everyday lives we apply the Scientific Method to solving problems without even knowing it. When something isn’t working, we usually make a prediction about the cause of the problem, then test our prediction by focusing on a single variable at a time. Like scientists, when the data does not support our prediction, we revise our hypothesis and start the process over again.

In this activity you are going to ask an adult how he or she would solve a common household problem. You will write down their responses, then analyze their problem solving technique to see how it relates to the Scientific Method.

Step 1 Decide on the Problem

(1 point) Pick an everyday type of problem from the list below:

· The vacuum cleaner isn’t working.

· The car won’t start.

· The fish in the aquarium keep dying.

· There is no sound coming out of the stereo.

(2 points) Come up with your own problem. Make sure it is one that the person you talk

to has some prior experience with. Try asking an adult about trouble shooting problems they have encountered in the past.

Step 2 Decide on the questions you will ask

(1 point) Use these questions:

· What would be your first guess about the cause of the problem?

· What observations would you have to make in order to know if this was the problem or not?

· If you determined that your original guess was not the problem, what would be your second guess?

· How would you test your second guess?

· If you determined that your second guess was not the problem, what would be your next guess?

· How would you test your third guess?

(2 points) Use the questions above, but decide what the source of the problem is, phrase

your responses accordingly. For example, if you were using “the vacuum

cleaner isn’t working”, you could decide ahead of time that the bag was full.

If the person responded “I would check the hose,” you would say, “You can see right through it, no clogs.”

(3 points) Come up with a totally different set of questions. Be sure that your questions

will force the person to engage in prediction making and problem solving.

Step 3 Prepare the question sheet

(1 point) Hand written

(2 points) Typed (word processor)

Step 4 Decide who is going to be questioned

(1 point) Get a parent or other adult in your home to answer questions for you.

(2 points) Get a relative who does not live with you to answer questions for you.

(3 points) Get a non-relative to answer questions for you (soccer coach, mechanic, Scout

leader, someone from church, etc.) Stay safe – make sure you have someone

else you know with you.

Step 5 Ask the questions and write down the adult’s responses

(1 point) abbreviated responses, not arranged in complete sentences

(2 points) Complete sentences that come as close to possible to capturing their exact

response.

Often the adult’s response will be brief, that’s okay, just try to write it down as completely as possible

Step 6 Analyze their responses to identify the following:

· Each hypothesis

· The variables involved in each hypothesis

· How each hypothesis was tested.

Evaluate their methods.

· Were their hypotheses testable?

· Did they change only one variable at a time?

· Did they use the results of the previous test to formulate the next hypothesis?

Example: (assuming the vacuum problem)

My Uncle’s first hypothesis was that the vacuum cleaner either wasn’t plugged in, or the fuse was blown. In this case there were two variables - electrical voltage, and the fuse. He ended up testing the voltage first, then the fuse. By not limiting himself to one variable at a time, he found it difficult to test his hypothesis….and so on.

(up to 4 points) This should be written as one or more paragraphs. Points are awarded for

how well you analyze the responses, not how much you write.

Step 7 Reflect on how the Scientific Method applies to everyday experience.

(up to 4 points) This should one paragraph. Discuss the various ways a person might

Form and test hypotheses in everyday life. How is this different from

formal scientific investigations?