Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

How is the engineering method different than the scientific method? Not sure which to pick.

Great question!

Like the Scientific Method, the Engineering Design Process (or "engineering method") is a set of steps that help outline the process engineers follow to come up with a solution to a problem.

These steps include:

• Define the problem.
• Do background research.
• Specify requirements and design criteria.
• Brainstorm.
• Prototype.
• Test.
• Iterate.
• Communicate results.

You can learn more about these steps here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... cess-steps

This video also helps explain going through the steps with a sample project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuwGvZ-eOrc

If you have questions, let us know.

Amy
Science Buddies

For more information about how the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method differ, see this page on comparing the steps of the two methods:

Comparing the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... fic-method

As the page explains:

Scientists use the scientific method to make testable explanations and predictions about the world. A scientist asks a question and develops an experiment, or set of experiments, to answer that question. Engineers use the engineering design process to create solutions to problems. An engineer identifies a specific need: Who need(s) what because why? And then, he or she creates a solution that meets the need.

This video also helps demonstrate the two different approaches to doing a project:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIV031bnmFA



Amy
Science Buddies