Has the scientific method become confused with engineering problem solving; and is this a concern?

Question

It seems that there has been a fundamental (philosophical) redefinition of science (at least among those who fund scientific research) and the scientific method into something that more resembles a traditional engineering model.

At every level, research questions are phrased as if their solution involves defining or estimating known parameters in straightforward systems with almost no unexplained variance.

Isn’t it bad enough that the concepts of scientific theory and hypotheses have already been thoroughly corrupted at the societal level?

Answer 1

This certainly has not happened in my classroom, and it will never happen if I have anything to do with it. My students must know the scientific research method through and through and be able to apply it to all types of conditions in the lab and in the world around them.