23 Conclusion
In this chapter, we discussed some of the basics of the scientific method. Regardless of discipline, all scientists use some version of the scientific method to understand nature. We use the scientific method to avoid biases, increase objectivity and to reach a consensus on our theories. However, the scientific method is not some ultimate truth or law of nature. It is an ever-evolving paradigm that has served us well so far. Scientists continue to refine it and explore its advantages and limitations.
Key Takeaways
- The scientific method is a paradigm that allows researchers to understand the world and reduce biases, increase objectivity and develop explanatory theories.
- Researchers formulate a research question, conduct an empirical study designed to answer the question, analyze the resulting data, draw conclusions about the answer to the question, and publishes the results.
- A theory is a coherent explanation or interpretation of one or more phenomena.
- A hypothesis is a specific prediction about a new phenomenon that should be observed if a particular theory is accurate.
- Researchers who want to test hypotheses about causal relationships between variables need to use an experimental method.
- The independent variable is the variable the experimenter manipulates (it is the presumed cause) and the dependent variable is the variable the experimenter measures (it is the presumed effect).
- Researchers who are simply interested in describing characteristics of phenomena, describing relationships between variables, and using those relationships to make predictions can use non-experimental research.
