HyperLink HyperLink

Featured Report
Subject:

Scientific method
An 18th-century depiction of early experimentation in the field of chemistry. Part of a series on Science   Logic Mathematics Mathematical logic Mathematical statistics Theoretical computer science Astronomy Astrophysics Cosmology Galactic astronomy Planetary geology Planetary science Stellar astronomy Chemistry Acid-base Alchemy Analytical Astrochemistry Biochemistry Crystallography Environmental Food chemistry Geochemistry Green (sustainable) Inorganic Materials science Molecular physics Nuclear Organic Photochemistry Physical Radiochemistry Solid-state Stereochemistry Supramolecular Surface science Theoretical Physics Classical Modern Applied Experimental Theoretical Computational Atomic Condensed matter Mechanics (classical continuum fluid solid) Molecular Nuclear Particle Plasma Quantum field theory Quantum mechanics (introduction) Special relativity General relativity Rheology String theory Thermodynamics Earth sciences Climatology Ecology Edaphology Environmental science Geodesy Geography (physical) Geology Geomorphology Geophysics Glaciology Hydrology Limnology Meteorology Oceanography Paleoclimatology Paleoecology Palynology Pedology Space science Biology Anatomy Astrobiology Biochemistry Biogeography Biological engineering Biophysics Behavioral neuroscience Biotechnology Botany Cell biology Conservation biology Cryobiology Developmental biology Ecology Ethnobiology Ethology Evolutionary biology (introduction) Genetics (introduction) Gerontology Immunology Limnology Marine biology Microbiology Molecular biology Neuroscience Paleontology Parasitology Physiology Radiobiology Soil biology Sociobiology Systematics Toxicology Zoology Anthropology Archaeology Criminology Demography Economics Human geography International relations Law Linguistics Pedagogy Political science Psychology Science education Sociology Engineering Aerospace Agricultural Biological Biomedical Chemical Civil Computer science / engineering Electrical Fire protection Genetic Industrial Mechanical Military Mining Nuclear Operations research Robotics Software Web Healthcare Dentistry Epidemiology Medicine (veterinary) Nursing Pharmacy Applied physics Artificial intelligence Bioethics Bioinformatics Biomedical engineering Biostatistics Cognitive science Complex systems Computational linguistics Cultural studies Cybernetics Environmental science Environmental social science Environmental studies Ethnic studies Evolutionary psychology Forestry Library science Mathematical and theoretical biology Mathematical physics Military science Network science Neural engineering Neuroscience Science studies Scientific modelling Semiotics Sociobiology Statistics Systems science Urban planning Web science Philosophy History Citizen science Fringe science Protoscience Pseudoscience Scientific freedom Science policy Scientific method Technoscience Outline Portal Category v t e The scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the scientific method as "a method or procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses."The chief characteristic which distinguishes the scientific method from other methods of acquiring knowledge is that scientists seek to let reality speak for itself, supporting a theory when a theory's predictions are confirmed and challenging a theory when its predictions prove false. Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, identifiable features distinguish scientific inquiry from other methods of obtaining knowledge. Scientific researchers propose hypotheses as explanations of phenomena and design experimental studies to test these hypotheses via predictions which can be derived from them. These steps must be repeatable to guard against mistake or confusion in any particular experimenter. Theories that encompass wider domains of inquiry may bind many independently derived hypotheses together in a coherent, supportive structure. Theories, in turn, may help form new hypotheses or place groups of hypotheses into context.Scientific inquiry is intended to be as objective as possible in order to minimize bias. Another basic expectation is the documentation, archiving and sharing of all data collected or produced and of the methodologies used so they may be available for careful scrutiny and attempts by other scientists to reproduce and verify them. This practice, known as full disclosure, also means that statistical measures of their reliability may be made. Cite error: There are tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist}} template (see the help page).
Created By: System
Join To Create/Save Reports
Forgot Password

Related Reports