What is the Scientific Method?
The scientific method is an empirical process used to acquire scientific knowledge. It is broadly applied to various sciences and enables the testing and validation of a scientific hypothesis. The problem is defined based on various observations. For example, a question can arise from the observation of a natural phenomenon. This question can lead to the formulation of a hypothesis and predictions. These can be tested by collecting data using the appropriate methodology. The final steps of the scientific method include data analysis and validation of the hypothesis. Altogether, the conclusions drawn from the scientific method will lead to new questions. This will ultimately improve our knowledge towards a better comprehension of the world surrounding us.
When was the Scientific Method Invented? Who Invented the Scientific Method?
Even though various scientific methodologies were elaborated in ancient Egypt and Babylonia, the inventor of the scientific method is usually considered to be Aristotle1. This antique Greek philosopher introduced empiricism to science in his text Posterior Analytics2. In other words, empiricism means that our scientific knowledge must be based on observations and empirical evidence. This is a key concept of the scientific method. The term “scientific method” became popular much later during the 19th and 20th centuries when it was broadly introduced into dictionaries and encyclopedias3.
What are the Steps of the Scientific Method?
What is the First Step of the Scientific Method?
Step 1- What is a Scientific Question and How to Use the Scientific Method?
First of all, the scientific method begins with a question, something that needs to be answered. This problem can arise from initial observations leading to a specific question, which would ideally be something that you can measure or quantify. This initial question will later lead to the formulation of the working hypothesis.
What is the Second Step of the Scientific Method?
Step 2- Literature search
Before performing scientific experiments in a laboratory, every scientist will begin his research by doing an extensive literature search. This is a crucial step of the scientific method because it will reveal what is already known about the problem. The idea is to see if anything relevant to the question is already known. In addition, the literature search can be used to determine the appropriate methodology to address the question.
What is the Third Step of the Scientific Method?
Step 3- Formulation of the hypothesis and predictions
Following extensive background research, the scientist can then formulate the hypothesis. It is a plausible assumption based on the scientific knowledge and the methodology available. The scientist can then predict the possible outcome before performing any experiments. For example, a scientist will formulate the hypothesis that if he changes the parameter or variable X, it could result in different effects (A, B, or C).
What is the Fourth Step of the Scientific Method?
Step 4- Experimental design, scientific experiment, and data collection
Obviously, experiments are an important part of the scientific method. Every rigorous scientific experiment needs to be performed using the appropriate methodology. For instance, the instrument used to test the hypothesis must be accurate and efficient. In order to be valid, the experiment must be performed along with appropriate control groups and in controlled conditions to assess the effect of a single parameter at a time. Furthermore, the scientist must take into account all the factors that can introduce a bias during data collection. The experiment also needs to be reproduced a few times to make sure that the results are reproducible and are not obtained randomly. Finally, different methodologies can be used to test the same hypothesis, therefore strengthening the validity of the scientific findings.
What is the Fifth Step of the Scientific Method?
Step 5- Data analysis
Once data collection is over, the scientist can proceed to its analysis. The collected data can be presented in different ways such as pictures, schemas, videos, etc. If numerical data was obtained, it can be presented in a chart. The type of chart selected for graphical representations depends on the type of question. For example, proportions are easily represented in a pie chart whereas a bar chart will be better suited to show the evolution of monthly sales of a company through the years. In addition, the scientist can perform various mathematical equations and statistical analyses to further characterize his dataset.
What is the Sixth Step of the Scientific Method?
Step 6- Hypothesis validation or invalidation, and formulation of new related questions
It is now time to draw conclusions about the initial question. The data collected and analyzed can either validate or invalidate the hypothesis. When drawing conclusions, the scientist must be critical regarding the quality of the data obtained and he should also consider the limitations of the methodology used for testing. Often, the conclusions will lead to additional questions and the formulation of new hypotheses.
What is the Seventh Step of the Scientific Method?
Step 7- Sharing the scientific discoveries: publication and peer review
Someone could easily become an improvised scientist and apply the scientific method to validate or invalidate his own hypothesis. However, what makes the strength of the scientific method is to share the knowledge gained from a scientific experiment that was performed. This way, the scientific community can benefit from the work of others before establishing their own hypotheses. Every research project published therefore contribute to broader scientific advances, even when the initial hypothesis was proven wrong. In addition, our comprehension of a specific scientific topic is constantly evolving as it can be either validated or even sometimes challenged by the completion of more advanced research projects.
The scientific method is a cornerstone of science and this is why it is important to teach it to kids. This concept is generally taught to children during the 4th, 5th, or 6th grade. The scientific method can help these kids to develop critical thinking and to give them the tools required to solve complex problems.
How to Use the Scientific Method and How to Design an Experiment Using the Scientific Method? An Example Applied to Drug Discovery
The scientific method can be applied to answer various questions related to biology, psychology, sociology, etc. Here, we have already explained all the steps constituting the scientific method and their respective order. Let’s now see a fictional example to show how the scientific method can be applied to solve complex problems in the pharmaceutical industry.
Step1: What is a Scientific Question?
Let’s say that a chemist is looking for new drugs that could be used in the pharmaceutical industry. The initial question could be something like “Is there a better treatment to control the blood pressure of patients?”. This is a good example showing how the rigorous application of the scientific method can answer a complex question.
Step 2: Literature research
The scientist will then proceed to an extensive literature search and gather all the information available for the active molecules already used as treatments. During his research, the chemist noticed a molecule that could be chemically transformed to alter its structure. In addition, the structure of the original molecule is available, and bio-informatics analysis indicates that the modification would occur in the active site of the molecule.
Step 3: What is an Example of a Hypothesis, How to Write a Hypothesis, and What is a Prediction in Science?
The scientist, therefore, emits the hypothesis that this modification could increase the efficiency of the treatment. He then predicts that the modification of the molecule will increase its binding to receptors located on the surface of blood vessels and that it will reduce blood pressure and side effects.
Step 4: Experiment and data collection
In Vitro Experiments
The scientist decides to first test his hypothesis by measuring how the alteration of the active molecule can affect its capacity to bind the receptor. He will use purified molecules from either the original formula or the altered version of the molecule. Then, he will measure the binding capacity of the molecules towards their target receptor in a test tube.
In Vivo Experiments
To assess the biological properties of the newly identified molecule, the scientist will next use animals to analyze how the molecule can affect a complex organism such as rats. This is a complex experiment that needs to be designed properly in order to draw the right conclusions. The scientist decides to use obese rats that are prone to high blood pressure to test the efficiency of his new drug. Three groups will be monitored. The first group will be obese rats receiving no treatment at all. The second will contain animals receiving the original form of the molecule whereas the third will be administered the new molecule.
The experiment must be performed in controlled conditions
In order to be valid, the experiment needs to be performed in controlled conditions. To consider additional factors that might introduce a bias during data analysis, the groups compared must be homogeneous. Many factors can influence data interpretation and to make sure to draw the right conclusions, the scientist decides to use only male rats of approximately the same age. The blood pressure of these animals will then be monitored over the weeks and blood samples will be taken to reveal changes in its content.
Step 5: Data analysis
The results obtained during data collection can be presented in various graphical representations. For instance, the strength of the binding exhibited by these different molecules can be easily compared in a simple bar chart. The blood pressure measurements for each group can be presented as a function of time since the beginning of the treatment in a scatter plot. In addition, a trend line or regression line can be drawn on the graph to emphasize the various trends exhibited by each group of animals.
Step 6: Validation of the hypothesis
Once the different scientific experiments are performed, the scientist will be able to re-examine the initial hypothesis. If the methodology was appropriate and the influence of external factors was reduced to a minimum, the scientist will then be able to use his data and analysis to validate or invalidate his initial hypothesis.
In this example, the scientist will conclude that the modification of an existing molecule used to regulate blood pressure can increase its efficiency in comparison with the original drug. However, a major limitation of this study is that it was performed on an animal model. One could therefore ask if this newly identified molecule would be equally efficient on human patients. As you can see, the application of the scientific method for this research raised another important question, which can then be addressed by other scientists.
Step 7: Publication and peer review
In order to benefit the entire scientific community, a scientist must publish his findings. First, the scientist will first write an article summarizing his research project. He can then submit his article to a scientific journal where it will be reviewed by peers to ensure the quality of the results before their publication. Once the results are published, they can be accessible to the whole scientific community and can be cited in the work of other scientists. Altogether, this process allows the expansion of knowledge in a particular scientific field.
The Scientific Method – A Short Quiz
Question 1: Classify these steps of the scientific method in the right order
- Experiment
- Literature search
- Ask a question
- Publication
- Data analysis
- Validation of the hypothesis
- Formulation of the hypothesis and predictions
A) 2-3-7-1-5-6-4
B) 3-2-7-1-5-6-4
C) 3-2-7-1-5-4-6
D) 2-3-7-1-5-4-6
Question 2: To be able to draw valid conclusions, a scientist must use a methodology that…
- Generate reproducible data
- Can appropriately test the hypothesis
- Is precise enough to distinguish between conditions
- Is performed in a controlled environment
A) 1 and 2
B) 1, 2 and 3
C) 2, 3 and 4
D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Question 3: True or false. A scientific study is invalid and cannot be published if the hypothesis was wrong.
A) True
B) False
Answers
1B, 2D, 3B
Now that you know the different steps of the scientific method, what do you think about this reasoning process? Don’t be shy and share your thoughts with us in the comment section below!
Check my previous post to see how to experiment with light refraction through a prism!
References
1- Wikipedia – The history of the scientific method
2- Aristotle, considered the inventor of the scientific methods – Posterior Analytics
3- Wikipedia – Scientific method
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