ABSTRACTEMPHASIZING THE PROCESS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN THE PHYSICAL SCIENCE CLASSROOM ByTrevor Schmachtenberger High school science requires students to use the scientific method when solving problems. The ability to solve problems in this way is a valuable and necessary skill for the classroom and life experiences. The goal of this study was to fully incorporate scientific thinking and methodology into the current curriculum. The hypothesis for this study was: a gradual release of responsibility from instructor to student will show an improvement in the ability of students to solve critical thinking problems, an integral part of the scientific method. This project was implemented over the period of one semester, 18 weeks and covered eight units of study. The research reported here focused on three particular units: Motion, Heat Energy, and Wave Energy. Students in a Physical Science class participated in making observations, identifying patterns, and asking questions based on the observed patterns, which led to student developed hypotheses and protocols, including data collection and analysis. Students participated in their own scientific practices, which, in turn, led to a sense of ownership and also a more thorough understanding of the scientific method and its practices as measured by lab activity accuracy and improvement in formative scores. Pre-test and post-test results indicated an improvement in students’ ability to use scientific methodology.
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