"Scientific Method"

Some say that there is a "right" way to do an experiment. I agree with that theory to an extent, I believe that you should start with a beginning, middle, and an end. What I don't believe is that there is steps that you should follow. For example the "scientific method" says that you have to first have a problem, then make an observation, a hypothesis then finally you test your experiment, and after all of that you end with a conclusion. From reading a few different links (see below) I realized that science is not always set out that way. In reality yes, we do put the hypothesis, problem, and observation at the beginning side following with the experiment and ending with a conclusion but there really is no"linear" way. In an experiment there are a few 'rules'. You must have a control which is also known as the thing that stays the same. The dependent variable is the control in the experiment it is what is being measured. The independent variable effects the outcome of the experiment.

For example in the corn experiment the dependent variable was how high the corn grows but the independent variable was the number of bugs around the corn. The control in the corn experiment was the sunlight and water. A placebo is a "sugar pill," this is a type of control; this is something that has no effect on the experiment, this is only made for the person to believe that there is a difference when this "object" is added. Sometimes placebos are used in place of a control in an experiment. In a double blind trial neither the person receiving the item or giving the item has an idea of what the outcome will be. For example if a Dr. Or researcher wants to know if taking vitamin C helps reduce colds they gather two separate groups. One group will receive the placebo (sugar pill), and the other will get the vitamin C, neither the participants or the researcher know which group is getting what. This helps for the researches to get an accurate outcome.

http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/howscienceworks_01

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_01/BL_01.html