The process of scientific investigation involves a structured approach known as the scientific method. This method starts by identifying a meaningful question or problem, followed by gathering relevant information through observation.
ScienceScience is a method of investigating nature--a way of knowing about nature--that discovers reliable knowledge about it.
Scientific Method
The Steps
6. The final step of the scientific method is to construct, support, or cast doubt on a scientific theory
5. If the hypothesis fails the test, it must be rejected and either abandoned or modified
4. Next, one must test the hypothesis before it is corroborated and given any real validity
3. Now one can propose a solution or answer to the problem or question. In science, this suggested solution or answer is called a scientific hypothesis, and this is one of the most important steps a scientist can perform, because the proposed hypothesis must be stated in such a way that it is testable.
2. One must next gather relevant information to attempt to answer the question or solve the problem by making observations
1. One must ask a meaningful question or identify a significant problem, and one should be able to state the problem or question in a way that it is conceivably possible to answer it.
The scientific method has proven to be the most reliable and successful method of thinking in human history, and it is quite possible to use scientific thinking in other human endeavors
Scientific and Critical Thinking
The Three Central Components of Scientific and Critical Thinking
3. Skepticism: Possessing a Skeptical Attitude
2. Rationalism: The Practice of Logical Reasoning
1. Empiricism: The Use of Empirical Evidence
scientific and critical thinking are the same thing, but where one (scientific thinking) is always practiced by scientists, the other (critical thinking) is sometimes used by humans and sometimes not
Critical thinking is thinking correctly for oneself that successfully leads to the most reliable answers to questions and solutions to problems
