Scientific method

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/scientific-method

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the epistemological basis?Rooted in empiricism, emphasizing knowledge acquisition through sensory experience and observation
2. What is the philosophical underpinning?Central tenet of falsifiability, as articulated by philosophers like Karl Popper
3. Why must a hypothesis be falsifiable?A hypothesis must be falsifiable so that scientists can find evidence that might prove it wrong, which helps keep science honest and separate from made‑up ideas.
4. How do scientists test their ideas?Scientists test ideas by doing controlled experiments or systematic observations, then compare the results with the predictions that came from the hypothesis.

Empiricism: The philosophical stance that knowledge originates from sensory experience and observation.
Falsifiability: The criterion that a scientific hypothesis must be capable of being proven false.
Inductive Reasoning: Drawing general conclusions from specific observations or instances.
Deductive Reasoning: Deriving specific conclusions from general principles or premises.