What Is the Scientific Method?

 

There are lots of interesting things in this month's issue of SEED magazine. One of them is a survey of scientists in the USA, UK, France and Germany.

SEED magazine conducted a survey where it asked the following question of 1000 scientists in the USA, UK, France, and Germany: "Does the scientific method describe how you do science?" [SEED: State of Science].

81% said "yes."

I would answer "no" but my answer depends very much on what I think the question means. I think it's fair to use the common understanding of the "scientific method," the one that's taught in fifth grade.

Here's the simple version that's described on the Wikipedia site [Scientific Method].

1. Use your experience: Consider the problem and try to make sense of it. Look for previous explanations. If this is a new problem to you, then move to step 2.
2. Form a conjecture: When nothing else is yet known, try to state an explanation, to someone else, or to your notebook.
3. Deduce a prediction from that explanation: If you assume 2 is true, what consequences follow?
4. Test : Look for the opposite of each consequence in order to disprove 2. It is a logical error to seek 3 directly as proof of 2. This error is called affirming the consequent.

Is this what most people think about when they hear the term "scientific method"?

If you are a scientist, how would you have answered the SEED question and what definition of "scientific method" do you have in mind?

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