Scientists Are Question-Askers
A scientist is anyone who looks closely at the world and asks why. You do this every day! Why does ice melt? Why do plants grow toward sunlight? Why does a ball fall down instead of up?
Scientists answer questions by following a process called the scientific method:
- 👀 Observe — notice something interesting in the world
- ❓ Question — ask a testable question about it
- 💡 Hypothesis — make an educated guess at the answer
- ⚖ Experiment — test your hypothesis carefully
- 📊 Data — record what actually happened
- 🥊 Conclusion — decide if your hypothesis was right or wrong
💡Important!
It is perfectly fine if your hypothesis is wrong. Scientists learn just as much from experiments that don't go as expected. A "failed" experiment is never wasted — failure IS data!
Observation vs. Inference
An observation is something you directly see, hear, smell, touch, or taste. An inference is a conclusion based on what you observe.
- Observation: "The plant's leaves are yellow."
- Inference: "The plant might not be getting enough sunlight."
Good scientists always separate observations from inferences. They test their inferences before claiming they are true.