Why Is Scientific Method Important?

Scientific method is the most powerful method to answer any question developed by human beings. Before we discuss why scientific method is important and how we can apply it our daily lives, we need to understand what exactly is scientific method and the steps involved in it.

WHAT IS SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

The scientific method is a method of investigation involving observation and experimentation to acquire new knowledge, solve problems and answer questions. It is a step by step approach and the steps are interconnected with each other.

STEPS INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFIC METHOD

It generally involves the following steps-

1. Make systematic observations
2. Formulate a tentative hypothesis
3. Design and conduct experiment to test the hypothesis
4. Interpret the results objectively
5. Repeat the steps until acceptable solution is found

WHY IS SCIENTIFIC METHOD IMPORTANT TO US?

Scientific method is a really powerful tool that helps us answer many questions and takes us closer to truth. It attempts to minimize the influence of bias or prejudice while forming a hypothesis or conducting an experiment. Neil deGrasse Tyson, a prominent astrophysicist and director of the Hayden planetarium, puts it perfectly in Joe Rogan’s Podcast, “The only point of scientific method is to make sure you are not fooled into thinking that something is true that is not or thinking that something is not true that is.”

It’s not a bad thing if our hypothesis is wrong. It will serve as a tool for further learning in science. We’d need to think scientifically still and formulate better hypothesis and arrive at a result through experimentation. At the end, acknowledge that a failure is not a failure. In the words of Thomas Edison, “If I find 10000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”

HOW CAN WE APPLY SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN OUR DAILY LIVES?

We have established that scientific method is a powerful tool for problem solving. But how do we apply it in our daily lives? How can we be more efficient in solving our problems? We have all used scientific method in our lives in one form or the other. To apply this method, we need to be calm in order to think logically and with composure. Then proceed with the following steps-

Identify the problem that you’re facing. Make quantitative observations such as number of occurrences, duration, specific characteristics of the problem and so on. Form a hypothesis about what the possible cause(s) of the problem could be. Test your hypothesis by conducting experiments that highlight the aspects of the problem.  Either your hypothesis is right in which case figuring out the solution wouldn’t be so hard (Implementing the solution is a different matter. One can use scientific method while implementing it too), or your hypothesis is wrong. If and when the hypothesis is wrong, you must go back to forming a new hypothesis.

EXAMPLE-

Problem- The light bulb isn’t glowing when the switch is turned on.

How do we approach and solve this problem?

First we make an observation which is identifying the problem. Second, we form a hypothesis, say the bulb is fused. How do we test it? Replace the bulb and turn on the switch. If the bulb glows, our hypothesis was correct and we have solved the problem. If the bulb doesn’t glow, we need to discard our first hypothesis and propose a new and improved hypothesis, say the connections were faulty or wires are broken at some point. Eventually, we’ll arrive at an answer that will solve the problem.

LIMITATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

As every human inventions and techniques have limitations, scientific method also has its limits. However, they are not major shortcomings as some “science sceptics” present it to be. The shortcomings are minor. These are a source of endless debate. Experimentation is not always possible and since there is no way to record or observe everything, there is no way to be certain that all relevant results get recorded. It’s not perfect but certainly better than any other method available to us.

QUOTES ON SCIENTIFIC METHOD

• “Science, my boy, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth.” - Jules Verne
• “There’s nothing quite as frightening as someone who knows they are right.” – Michael Faraday
• “Why do we put up with it? Do we like to be criticized? No, no scientist enjoys it. Every scientist feels a proprietary affection for his or her ideas and findings. Even so, you don’t reply to critics, wait a minute; this is a really good idea; I’m very fond of it; it’s done you no harm; please leave it alone. Instead, the hard but just rule is that if the ideas don’t work, you throw them away.” - Carl Sagan
• “In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.” –Galileo Galilei
• “Details that could throw doubt on your interpretation must be given, if you know them. You must do your best you can –to explain it. If you make a theory, for example, and advertise it, or put it out, then you must also put down all the facts that disagree with it, as well as those that agree with it. There is also a more subtle problem. When you put a lot of ideas together to make an elaborate theory, you want to make sure, when explaining what it fits, that those things it fits are not just the things that gave you the idea for the theory; but that finished theory makes something else come out right, in addition.” –Richard Feynman
• “We must trust to nothing but facts: These are presented to us by nature, and cannot deceive. We ought, in every instance, to submit our reasoning to the test of experiment, and never to search for truth but by the natural road of experimentation and observation.” –Antoine Lavoiser
• “Science, however, is never conducted as a popularity contest, but instead advances through testable, reproducible, and falsifiable theories.” –Michio Kaku

CONCLUSION

The final step of scientific method is to arrive at a conclusion. Scientific method is a powerful tool for all mankind and our life would be easier and less stressful with it. For all its flaws, it makes up for it with its accurate results and the efficient process. It is very important to us and we can surely apply it our daily lives.

Thank you for reading and keep on being curious!!
Lemme know your thoughts on scientific method on the comment section below!