1. The scientific method

“Scientific method: A method that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.” Oxford English Dictionary.

    The scientific method has been the basis for investigations in the natural sciences since the 17th century. It is often credited as one of the main causes of the industrial revolution. This method of inquiry is based on empirical evidence, quantitative measurements and logical reasoning. It leaves a central role to nature itself, because it demands that scientists constantly check that their theories are in agreement with how the universe actually works, via the design and performance of experiments. By letting nature speak instead of a particular scientist or philosopher, the scientific method ensures that advances made by different scientists build on each other. Since it was adopted, it has therefore allowed the accumulation of an incredible amount of scientific knowledge.

    Following the scientific methods usually requires taking the following steps (exact steps may vary according to the field or who you ask but here are the main ones):

• Ask a question and perform some background research
• Formulate a hypothesis and identify a prediction deriving from the hypothesis
• Design and perform an experiment that can verify the hypothesis by testing an associated prediction
• Analyze the data and reach a conclusion (is the hypothesis true or false? or is the experiment inconclusive?). If the hypothesis is false, try another hypothesis!

Other important aspects of the scientific methods are:

• Communication. The scientific method relies on cumulative results and calls for external reviews (usually conducted by peers) of the applied process. Therefore data recording and sharing, as well as clear communication of one’s results to other scientists, are incredibly important.
• Replication. A good experiment should be reproducible.

    In the context of this course, we are interested in the scientific method for two main reasons. First, because we will try to apply it when carrying out our research projects. And second, because we can use it as a framework to examine the papers we will encounter during our journal clubs.