How does science work?

Scientific research is a way of investigating the world that allows us to draw testable conclusions about how it works. It is an ongoing process, in which researchers test, reshape and retest their ideas in the light of new evidence.

To start with, researchers draw up an idea, or hypothesis, based on available evidence, such as the results of previous experiments.

Then the scientists carry out carefully designed studies, or experiments, to test their hypothesis. They collect and record detailed information and measurements, and analyse the data to see if it supports their idea or not.

It is also important that results are reproducible and reliable. Researchers will carry out the same experiment several times, to make sure they get the same result. And they will also use controls, to ensure that their results are genuine.

Sharing results

Scientists regularly publish their findings in academic journals, so other researchers around the world can see what they have discovered and test their conclusions.

The best journals have a strict process of peer review, meaning that new research is scrutinised by other experts before it is published.

Building a body of knowledge

In this way, we build up a body of scientific evidence that supports an idea. It also means that ideas can change over time, as new evidence to support or overturn an idea comes to light. And advances in technology mean that we can look at old questions in a new way.

New research often supports and builds on an established idea, in which case the hypothesis becomes stronger. But sometimes, new results can appear to contradict a conventional idea.

Should we believe them, or ignore them?

How to decide?

The key to understanding scientific stories in the media is looking at the evidence and deciding if it supports or contradicts what we already know, rather than just glancing at the headline.

But how do we know if this new evidence is reliable? It can be hard to tell, as some media reports don’t contain many details about the research. To help make sense of science stories, have a look at our top tips.