2. W H AT I S T H E S C I E N T I F I C
METHOD?
The scientific method is a method of procedure used in scientific investigation. It is
comprised of systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, along with the formulation,
testing and adaptation of hypotheses.
In order for a method of inquiry to be termed scientific, it needs to be based on empirical
and measurable evidence and be subject to specific principals of reasoning.
What defines the scientific method in comparison to other methods of inquiry is that it
allows theories to be proved or disproved by the reality being investigated. This is surmised by
the statement Feynman makes in his lecture:
“It doesn’t make a difference how beautiful your guess is, it doesn’t make a difference how smart you are,
who made the guess, or what his name is, if it disagrees with experiment, it’s wrong”
3. U S E S A N D P R AC T I C A L
A P P L I C AT I O N S O F T H E S C I E N T I F I C
METHOD
The scientific method is used in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and, to a
certain degree, in psychology and social sciences.
However the scientific method also has several everyday practical applications and it
can be used in any task which has a goal, model, data, evaluation and revision of the
model.
For example, cooking from a recipe. The goal is to cook a meal, the model is the recipe,
the data is tastings while cooking, this is then evaluated. If it works then the recipe is
correct, if it doesn’t then modifications are made to the recipe.
Unless the experiment includes all these five stages, it is not scientific.
4. THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
The scientific method has six steps:
Problem – All scientific inquiry starts with a question to test, however this
must be a specific question for the scientific method to work efficiently.
Information – Background research on the topic helps to form your
hypothesis
Hypothesis – An educated guess based on research and experience
Experimentation – Test of the hypothesis within controlled, measured
conditions that may be replicated if needed
Observations – Collection of data results from the experiment
Conclusion – If the experiment proves your theory false then you have to
modify the theory and repeat the experiment to test these modifications.
5. BENEFITS AND CRITICISMS OF
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Benefits
Criticisms
Allows the experiment to be repeated
A specific question is needed for the
with the same results, this provides
scientific method to be of use. Vague questions
empirical, objective data.
are impossible to answer properly or definitively
Allows for modifications to the
using this method because of the flexibility in
hypothesis which means that data is not
changing the hypothesis.
made to fit a hypothesis but the
It can’t be used for problems that don’t fulfill
hypothesis is made to fit the data.
all six categories, such as slot machines, where
Gives a logical approach to problem
you can’t revise how the game is played, as
solving and data analysis.
opposed to a card game where much of the
strategy can be manipulated by the player.
