What is the scientific method?
The Scientific Method comprises four sequential phases :
- Analysis
- Hypothesis
- Synthesis, and
- Validation
which may be applied iteratively and recursively in every step in a task as necessary to achieve the task objective.
The above definition and diagram are from pages 172 and 173 of the book listed below Getting It Right - R&D Methods for Science & Engineering (2nd Edition). UConn Library has full access to the electronic version of this title through our Knovel and Elsevier subscriptions.
Getting It Right: R&D methods for science and engineering by ISBN: 9780128161661Publication Date: 2020-04-11Getting it Right: R&D Methods for Science and Engineering, Second Edition, is an authoritative guide to the methodologies that produce coherent and complete R&D projects. Based on the author's experience in large industrial firms, this book addresses the avoidance of common pitfalls that engineers and scientists routinely face in industry and academia. Special emphasis is placed on the comprehensive analysis of project problems, requirements, objectives, the use of standard and consistent terminology and procedures, the design of rigorous and reproducible experiments, the appropriate reduction and interpretation of project results, and the effective communication of project design, methods, results, and conclusions, embedded in a clear and modern framework of the Scientific Method.
Books on the Scientific Method
Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method by ISBN: 9789812835093Publication Date: 2009-01-01This book describes how one can use The Scientific Method to solve everyday problems including medical ailments, health issues, money management, traveling, shopping, cooking, household chores, etc. It illustrates how to exploit the information collected from our five senses, how to solve problems when no information is available for the present problem situation, how to increase our chances of success by redefining a problem, and how to extrapolate our capabilities by seeing a relationship among heretofore unrelated concepts.
One should formulate a hypothesis as early as possible in order to have a sense of direction regarding which path to follow. Occasionally, by making wild conjectures, creative solutions can transpire. However, hypotheses need to be well-tested. Through this way, The Scientific Method can help readers solve problems in both familiar and unfamiliar situations. Containing real-life examples of how various problems are solved for instance, how some observant patients cure their own illnesses when medical experts have failed this book will train readers to observe what others may have missed and conceive what others may not have contemplated. With practice, they will be able to solve more problems than they could previously imagine.
