Explain why there is no single scientific method?

Answer 1

There is only one basic scientific method:
1) Observation
2) Hypothesis
3) Experimentation
4) Results
5) Conclusion

Some descriptions may have more or less steps, but they are all just variations on the theme. The basic process is the same, but some procedures may be grouped into different steps based on semantics.

Answer 2

As previous posters have mentioned, there is one "scientific method" that is taught in high schools, where theres is hypthothesis, experiment, etc. etc. This is called a DEDUCTIVE process because you have a theory, and you need to figure out if it is correct or incorrect. One way it was explained to me is that science is a marble block. This deductive process chips away all the wrong theories, and what is left is your statute (true theories). This is the standard method for science. But it is a bit unfortunate that high schools make it sound like this is the one scientific method. Many times, the deductive method isn't the best way to do science.

Even though a majority of research done today uses this method, there is also an INDUCTIVE method. This method is purely observational. You don't have a formal hypothesis, but rather, you just look at what is happening and work towards a conclusion. For example, you want to see how a brain works, so you take a microscope and look at it. This way, if you see something interesting, you look into it. Using an analogy, it's like building something. Observations build into a conclusion.

Answer 3

The scientific method is basically just a procedure to solve problems. Just about every author will list different names for the various parts of the scientific method. (I guess authors & sometimes teachers just want to confuse kids...LOL).

I am a chemistry teacher. I will try to explain the scientific method so you can understand it no matter what your teacher/book calls it.

First, in order to solve a problem you need to know what the problem is. The first part of the scientific metod is to IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.

You then, with the knowledge you already have, you must come up with a solution that makes sense to you. Some teachers/books call this the HYPOTHESIS.

You then try your possible solution to see if it will, in fact, solve the problem you have identified. This is the part that has multiple names...sometimes it is called OBSERVATION. Other times it is called EXPERIMENT. Sometimes, it is called both.

After that section (whatever it is called) you have to decide from you experiment if your solution/hypothesis solved your problem. If it did, it becomes a THEORY. If it did not solve the problem, at least you have narrowed down the possible solutions to your problem by one...you know that solution did not work.

You can then go back to the identified problem and try to identify another possible solution...hypothesis.

Good luck...I agree that people use way too many names for the same things in the scientific methid.

Answer 4

Are you referring to the process that is used prior to setting up an experiment? I know there are several parts to the one method but I have never heard of nor used a different method from the one I used in high school....we used the same one in my freshman Chem Lab.

Answer 5

results would be skewed. if you, for example, came up with some brilliant discovery that cured AIDS. and tested it using only ONE method. and to your fame it came out great. now, true it worked well in this scenario and method, however not all people would be convinced that this was the be all and end all conclusion. with more ways of testing, it leads to tearing down the preassumed discovery until there can be nothing left for it to negate.

Answer 6

Because it has not yet be discovered, which is to be expected at this stage of our development. Our knowledge of deep science has barely begun. The progress of our knowledge is continuing, but there are still very many more questions then answers.

Answer 7

method for what?

Answer 8

do not know