Scientific Methods
Article by: Mario Bunge, Foundations and Philosophy of Science Unit, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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Strategies or logical practices, often with iterative steps, used
in scientific research. The process of doing science (Fig. 1) is not
a "cookbook" set of rules. However, a valid scientific investigation
typically involves systematic collection of data and, usually, formula-
tion and testing of hypotheses based on that data. Indeed, the goal
of a true scientific study is to ascertain whether a hypothesis is true
to some degree.
Such enquiries into the natural world may include the following
steps, often collectively referred to as "the scientific method":
• Identification of a problem or question about the natural world
• Precise formulation or reformulation of the problem
• Examination of background knowledge, including primary
scientific literature, in a search for items or ideas that might
help solve the problem
• Statement of a testable hypothesis about the solution to the
problem or answer to the question that is compatible with the
bulk of existing knowledge, including enumeration of testable
consequences of this hypothesis
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Content
• Experimental methods
• Science versus nonscience
Fig. 1: A scientific investigator examining laboratory samples.
(Credit: nandyphotos/Getty Images)
Key Concepts
• Reliable scientific research requires the use of established procedures for conducting
and evaluating experiments.
• Basic steps in the scientific method include identifying a problem, stating the problem,
conducting background research, forming a hypothesis, designing a test, testing the
hypothesis, and evaluating the results.
• Scientific methods involve a continual process that often incorporates changes to
methodology in response to new information learned during experimentation.
• Experiments must include experimental and control groups; variables testing; and the
use of statistical analysis.
• If a discipline cannot apply scientific methods to the gaining of new knowledge, then
that discipline cannot be considered as a science.
