What is the experimental approach?

A method for understanding the world

The experimental approach is the method scientists use to understand natural phenomena. Rather than guessing or simply believing, we observe, test and verify through experiments.

The main steps

Step	What we do
1. Observation	Noting a fact or phenomenon
2. Question	Asking why or how
3. Hypothesis	Proposing a possible explanation
4. Experiment	Testing the hypothesis using a precise protocol
5. Conclusion	Confirm or reject the hypothesis

A Practical Example

A pupil notices that a metal marble sinks in water whilst a cork floats. They ask themselves: “Why do some objects float and others sink?” They propose an explanation, then carry out an experiment using several different objects to test it.

A common pitfall

Note: an observation alone proves nothing. You must always test your hypothesis through a controlled experiment, rather than relying solely on your intuition or gut feeling.