What is the scientific method? + Features

If you are looking for the most complete information on the scientific method and its characteristics, stay in this post.

Here we explain everything you need to know about this method, the definitiontheir characteristicsThe different stages and his structure. Shall we start?

What is the scientific method?

The scientific method is, as the word says, a method to obtain scientific knowledge, it is rigorous and objective.

It is an orderly, systematic and reliable system when it is elaborated following the appropriate steps. These are executed sequentially.

Also, this method is mostly applied in scientific research, in order to obtain scientific knowledge on a certain topic.

In addition, it contributed greatly to development in many aspects of human life. One of the great tests is the advances we have seen and experienced in history.

It is essential in technology, in advances in medicine, and in a variety of branches of science that, when applied, have contributed to development in general.

Among the essential steps of the scientific method we find: observation, hypothesis, experimentation, theory and conclusion. It is possible that you will come across a few more depending on the bibliography.

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Why the scientific method?

The human being, being a rational, needs the explanation of the phenomena that occur in the world. Depending on the implications of the study or the field of action, there are a number of methods that are of great help for discovery.

The logical method is not the same as the historical method, just as the deductive or inductive method is not the same.

However, the scientific method is predominant and can be applied to almost all sciences, since it is based on two main pillars: falsifiability and reproducibility:

falsifiability

It is a quality that laws, theories or propositions possess, that the scientific method considers them as true, and that they are re-evaluated as false.

This idea was originated by the Austrian philosopher, Karl Popper, and makes it possible to differentiate scientific knowledge from what is not.

reproducibility

Quality that has a certain scientific knowledge, and can be replicated by another person, at another time and under the same conditions, finally obtaining the same result.

Scientific method and its characteristics

Next, we will develop the qualities that the scientific method has and its main characteristics, so that you can take it into account when making yours.

Rational

Said method is rational, that means that you have to base yourself on logic, on reason, and totally avoid subjectivity. Part of judgments, reasoning and objective concepts, this means that you cannot base yourself on beliefs or appearances produced by emotions, sensations, personal preferences or feelings.

That is, the basis of the scientific method cannot be biased points of view.

Analytical

It is analytical because it seeks to understand a complete situation. For this you have to break a whole into small parts, and then analyze each of the elements independently, exhaustively.

In addition, you must understand the links that exist between these elements and then explain their interrelationships.

This is one of the reasons why the problems of science are narrow at the beginning, and they become more and more wide as the investigation deepens and advances in each topic.

precise and clear

Precision and clarity are relevant characteristics of the scientific method, and are achieved as follows:

You must be precise. The method applies a formal language, where the language is artificial and signs and symbols are used, these have specific meanings thanks to the designation rules.

You have to present the problem as clearly as possible, so that you do not have ambiguities and confusion. The questions have to be differentiated from other concepts or ideas.

verifiable scientific method

It seeks to achieve scientific knowledge, and said knowledge has to be verifiable. That is, you have to pass the experience test.

Scientific knowledge has to be fulfilled, regardless of the place. It can be verified, verified and proven by other researchers.

Explanatory

This method tries to explain the facts and laws, seeks to answer questions. You have to explain the why of things, how they happen, how they originate and why in such a way and not in another.

You will try to explain with this method objective, detailed and exhaustive explanations based on laws, to the problem you raised.

Scientist

You must apply the method to have scientific knowledge, since its purpose is to obtain the exact, factual truth.

For this you must adapt the ideas to the facts, make one of the observation and, also, of the experimentation, until you confirm the falsity or the veracity of the hypotheses.

Structure

The scientific method is made up of several phases that you have to follow in order to effectively achieve the objective.

When looking for solutions to problems, it is done systematically, following the steps of the scientific method.

Next, we detail the main ones.

Observation and approach to the problem

First, you must identify the problem, thinking about what you want to find, this will be the question to solve.

Then, once the problem has been identified, you will move on to observation, and it is about making a careful and critical analysis of the phenomenon you want to study. Study and note the different circumstances and factors that seem to have an influence.

After you analyze and observe, you will proceed with the hypothesis.

scientific method hypothesis

In this step you will propose to give explanations, which may or may not be. Explanations of a probable solution to the problem, which will later be subjected to experimentation in order to verify its feasibility.

A hypothesis has to be tested through repeated experiments.

experimentation

In this step you must submit your hypothesis to a series of tests through experimentation.

It is about observing the phenomenon you are investigating, under carefully controlled and previously prepared conditions.

At this stage it is essential that you use the correct tools to accurately measure the results of the experiment, whether they are laboratories, measuring instruments, or prepared environments.

If the experimentation is repeated several times, it confirms your hypothesis, then you will go to the next step.

If the opposite occurs, then you must reformulate the hypothesis with the knowledge you possess and repeat the process again.

Organization

It refers to the convenient organization of the results, taking into account the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the experiment.

Compare the experiments, in this way it is verified that the hypotheses are fulfilled, which are later considered as laws. They will be expressed in formal terms.

Theory

If the repetition of the experimentation confirms the hypothesis that you raised, then they become theories.

Theories are very important and serve as a guide for future experiments, and these theories are constantly being tested.

Verification and prediction of the scientific method

Finally, the theory is useful for the prediction of phenomena, and can also serve to affirm the links between various processes of said phenomenon.

The scientific knowledge that you acquire, thanks to the scientific method, can be used by other researchers, in order to carry out new researchintroduce them to tests again or even to find faults or define their limits.

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