Scientific Method

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Outline on the Scientific Method

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See Also:

- Course Resources

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- An Overview of the Methods of the Social Sciences

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SUMMARY: There are SEVEN steps in the Scientific Method
a. Observe b. Classify c. Apply Logic d. Hypothesize
e. Research f. Record & Analyze Findings g. Record Findings

There are SEVEN steps in the Scientific Method

The Scientific Method is put into operation through the steps of the Research Design Process

a. Observation (a.k.a. empiricism) employs the five senses: seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, & tasting

Hume found that the senses are subject to illusions, errors, or prejudices

Because of problems w/ the senses, the scientific method makes further demands on the researcher

Observations must be subject to confirmation and verification

Confirmed & verified observations lead to "factual information" where the facts are socially created

b. Classification establishes relationships among facts:

Facts & classifications alone are sometimes viewed as "knowledge"

But this knowledge, classifications, must be seen as culturally based (i.e. biased)

In the mid 1800s, there was an explosion of modern classification

c. Applying logic infers a relationship among facts or objects of classification

The relationship inferred by application of logic becomes a hypothesis, if it is to be tested

But there are other ways of knowing than by deductive logic, including emotion, tradition, religion, feminist, post-modern

And logic tells us nothing of values; but other ways of knowing do deal w/ values

Science & logic tacitly support existing social relations, cultural & moral identities

We live in a culture where tradition, religion, emotions, etc. have less influence than science, logic, etc.

Scientism is the habit of thought or procedure of scientists that embodies a particular set of values, norms, structures & institutions

Choosing the Types of Analyses to be utilized in the Research Project reflects the application of logic

d. Hypothesize: : If the hypothesis is true, then such & such should follow

A Hypothesis is an "if,-then statement"

A Hypothesis takes the form that: 'If "C" or the Cause occurs, then "E" or the Effect should follow'

The hypothesis is a concise statement of the problem to be researched

In research, the answers you get depend on the questions you ask
Some questions are never asked.
Who controls the questions asked?
See Interest-Based Knowledge

e. Research: In actually conducting the research, some variation of the Research Instruments is used

Research Instruments include Surveys, Interviews, Statistical Analysis, Analyze Existing Data, Observation, Experiments, etc.

f. Record & analyze findings is the process by which the Researcher documents observations, numerical data, etc.

g. Report findings is where scientific findings are usually reported in Journals, Books, etc.