The Scientific Method

My "Off-Wikipedia" Informational Posts: The Scientific Method

What Is The Scientific Method?

From Wikipedia (the Free Encyclopedia)
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

The Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.[1]
To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning.[2] The Oxford English Dictionary says that scientific method is: "a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses."[3]

Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, identifiable features distinguish scientific inquiry from other methods of obtaining knowledge. Scientific researchers propose hypotheses as explanations of phenomena, and design experimental studies to test these hypotheses. These steps must be repeatable, to predict future results. Theories that encompass wider domains of inquiry may bind many independently derived hypotheses together in a coherent, supportive structure. Theories, in turn, may help form new hypotheses or place groups of hypotheses into context.

Scientific inquiry is generally intended to be as objective as possible, to reduce biased interpretations of results. Another basic expectation is to document, archive and share all data and methodology so they are available for careful scrutiny by other scientists, giving them the opportunity to verify results by attempting to reproduce them. This practice, called full disclosure, also allows statistical measures of the reliability of these data to be established.


A Simplified Version of the Scientific Method.

1- Propose a Hypothesis. Next, design an experimental study to test your hypothesis.

2 - Observation. Perform the Experiment, gathering observable and measurable data.

3 - Record Results. Share your findings, and experimental procedure. One of the goals of the Scientific community should be to share ideas, and information, so that other scientist can have opportunities to verify results by attempting to reproduce them.

4 - Conclusion. Did the evidence support the original hypothesis? Did the original hypothesis change? Did the results of the experiment lead to new questions?



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Wikipedia Notes:

1- Goldhaber & Nieto 2010, p. 940

2 - "[4] Rules for the study of natural philosophy", Newton 1999, pp. 794–6, from Book 3, The System of the World.

3 - Oxford English Dictionary - entry for scientific.