What does it take to be a scientist? The term scientist typically brings to mind an expert on a very specific field such as quantum physics, zoological taxonomy, or criminal psychology. It all seems very technical and complicated, but science is actually very simple- so simple that everyone could consider themselves scientists. Yes, even you.
The first step is observation. Scientists observe. This entails far more than watching. Observation is a very engaging pursuit that utilizes all the senses. Start keeping a daily journal where you write down your observations. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, feel when you are cooking in the kitchen, waking in the morning, waiting for a bus? Be as detailed as possible, writing down everything that comes to your mind. The more you practice your observation skills, the more aware of your surroundings you will become.
The next step is even easier- ask questions. Scientists are always asking questions about everything. No question is silly or dumb. In fact, some of the simplest questions have lead to some of the greatest scientific discoveries. Why does an apple fall? Where does the sun go when it sets? What makes salt taste salty? Let your mind wander and your curiosity rove. The more questions you ask, the better.
Next comes the guess. With the information you have from all your observations, venture an answer to your questions. This step applies the concept of cause and effect. Strive to explain the phenomena you see around you by identifying the possible causes and effects- how different objects in the environment interact with others and correlate changes through their connections and relationships.
Now you come up with a test that will help you determine whether or not your guess is correct. If you observe your dog eating Purina every morning and quickly emptying his bowl, you may venture a guess that Purina is his favorite dog food. You could test this by providing him with a different brand, like Pedigree and observing him for any change in his behavior. Does he eat less? More? The same amount? What does this mean about your guess?
Seeing the results of the test will bring up even more questions and will even help us identify flaws in the experiment. This is the thinking stage- the analysis. Did we answer our question, or were there other factors we did not consider that could have affected the outcome? Did the dog go for a walk before eating the Purina but not before eating the Pedigree? Did we provide him with the same flavor from both brands? The same amount?
With this new questions, we can return to the test until it is perfected and we are satisfied with our answer. Only then have we reached the conclusion. We all use this process, known as the scientific method, without even realizing it in our daily lives. We go through each of these steps to learn from anything and everything we encounter- our families and friends, teachers and students, food and clothing... We make observations, ask questions, guess outcomes, test them, and come to conclusions every day in order to make decisions about how we will proceed.
So you see, we are all scientists. Yes, even you.
Comments