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THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD TODAY
THE METHOD:
HISTORY:
ENDORSEMENT:
FALSE CLAIMS:
DEFINITION:
ABSTRACTED:
SM-14 INTRO:

The Scientific Method as Abstracted from Literature
The science or research process is not just a collection of miscellaneous “scientific methods.” Scientists and other researchers do not proceed in a haphazard fashion. Centuries of trial and error, research, discussions, and debates have led to a realization of the pattern of “The Scientific Method.”

This pattern includes the major stages of how we originate, refine, extend, and apply knowledge in all fields, through problem origination, prevention, solution, and challenge of solution. The method of science has been called by many names, most commonly “The Scientific Method.” It is a complete creative problem-solving method.

THERE ARE FOURTEEN STAGES & INGREDIENTS
TO THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
  • Stages #1 to #11 each represent a type of activity at a major stage of The Scientific Method.
  • Ingredients #12 to #14 are supporting or operating ingredients.

 
THE GENERAL PATTERN OF
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD (SM-14)
Part I Part II Part III Part IV
1. Curious Observation 8. Challenge the Hypothesis 11. Take Action (Supporting or Operating Stages)
2. Is There a Problem? 9. Reach a Conclusion   12. Creative, Non-Logical, Logical, and Technical Methods
3. Goals and Planning 10. Suspend Judgment   13. Procedural Principles and Theories
4. Search, Explore, and Gather the Evidence     14. Attributes and Thinking Skills
5. Generate Creative and Logical Alternative Solutions    
6. Evaluate the Evidence
7. Make the Educated Guess (Hypothesis)
FLEXIBLE ORDER OF USE

The stages above are listed in the usual order of use, but in actual practice they are used in a very flexible manner because progress on complex problems is seldom smooth.

In using the stages there will be:
Backtracking Looping Other Diversions
SCIENCE AND “THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD”
AS A SYSTEM OR PROCESS

The literature contains many references to science as a system or process.
  • An important part of the natural and other organized sciences is participant activities of peer review, debate, and evaluation of theories, which were produced by use of The Scientific Method. These activities determine the status of theories in our systematic, reliable, conserved BODY of ever-changing and expanding knowledge. This combination of our BODY of knowledge, The Scientific Method, and the review of new theories by those in the organized sciences represents a system or a process of science.
  • The Scientific Method has, over the centuries, been shown to have major stages of mental activity (stages #1 to #11, above). This formula in itself represents a system of refining, extending, and applying knowledge. For the organized sciences, the peer review process starts with Ingredient #11.
  • The complete system of science includes the operating or supporting stages explained below.
OPERATING OR SUPPORTING INGREDIENTS (SM-14 - PART IV)

Ingredient 12 -- Creative, Non-Logical, Logical, and Tehcnical Methods
These are the action methods, the working methods used under the ingredients and at every stage. There are probably millions of them. Many are commonly used in all domains. Others are specific to certain fields. “Methods” as used here includes:
Processes Tactics Approaches Operations Systems Strategies Decisions
Programs Routines Procedures Techniques Ideas Criteria Ways

Ingredient 13 -- Procedural Principles and Theories
There is no standard book of rules or principles to apply in using The Scientific Method. However, over the centuries, various basic principles and thoughts have been suggested, discussed, and debated. Many have been generally accepted and used.

Ingredient 14 -- Attributes and Thinking Skills
ATTRIBUTES -- Use of good personal attributes and avoidance of bad ones are crucial in problem solving. These should be studied as part of preparation for complete creative problem solving. Honesty is the foremost attribute.

THINKING SKILLS -- There is a well developed BODY of thinking skills with which you should be familiar. Of prime importance is the capacity to reason well and logically. Creative thinking also makes great advances possible.

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