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See Also: 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 |
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There are SEVEN steps in the Scientific Method | |||||
The Scientific Method is put into operation through the steps of the Research Design Process |
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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 | |||||
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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 |
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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 | |||||
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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 |
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e. Research: In actually conducting the research, some variation of the Research Instruments is used | |||||
Researh Instruments include Surveys, Interviews, Statistical Analysis, Analyze Existing Data, Observation, Experiments, etc. |
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f. Record & analyze findings is the process by which the Researcher documents observations, numerical data, etc. | |||||
g. Report findings: Scientific findings are usually reported in Journals & Books | |||||
See Also: | |||||
Qualities of the Scientific Method |
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The History of the Development of the Scientific Method |
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Criticism of science: Weber on values & science | |||||
Hoaxes: | |||||
Montesquieu on the Scientific Method |