The Scientific Method: The 6 Steps, Explained
The scientific method is the process scientists use to ask and answer questions about the world. It is a loop, not a straight line — results often send you back to test again.
The six steps
Most versions of the method follow these steps in order.
- •Ask a question about something you observe.
- •Do background research on what is already known.
- •Form a hypothesis: a testable, predicted answer.
- •Experiment to test the hypothesis, changing one variable at a time.
- •Analyse the data and look for patterns.
- •Draw a conclusion — and share it so others can repeat the test.
A quick example
Question: does more sunlight grow taller plants? Hypothesis: plants in more sunlight grow taller. Experiment: grow identical plants with different amounts of light, everything else equal. Analyse heights, then conclude whether the data support the hypothesis.
Why "one variable at a time" matters
A fair test changes only the thing you are studying (the independent variable) and keeps everything else the same. Otherwise you cannot tell which change caused the result.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hypothesis?
A specific, testable prediction — usually phrased as "if I do X, then Y will happen".
What is a variable?
Anything that can change in an experiment. You change the independent variable, measure the dependent variable, and keep control variables constant.