The Process of Scientific Inquiry
In her chemistry class, Izabella L. ('20), explored the concept of scientific inquiry.
The Process of Scientific Inquiry, otherwise known as the Scientific Method, should be more widely known to people of all ages. Although it is already widely known, it is a concept that should be brought to the attention of more and a concept that more people need to understand its importance in the world. It is the process which scientists go through whenever they confront a situation or a problem in need of a solution or an answer. Its importance in not only science, but the world around us is one that should not be neglected.
One of the most important aspects of the Scientific Method is how widespread it already is within the scientific community. The University of Nevada states that “The Scientific Method is not the only way, but is the best-known way to discover how and why the world works, without our knowledge being tainted by religious, political, or philosophical values.” Scientists from all parts of the world use the Process of Scientific Inquiry in order to engage in scientific discoveries. It is an organized outline of the process scientists go through which helps us understand how scientists conduct investigations. It has also been used through history and has been the process many of past scientists have used to make discoveries important to knowledge today. If we did not have the Process of Scientific Inquiry, the scientists of the past would not have been able to make the discoveries and contribute to the scientific community.
The Process of Scientific Inquiry is used in many different studies and occupations in the world today, such as psychology. Psychology is the study of the aspects of human behavior and the mind. Psychologists, when conducting an experiment on the difference of human behavior, makes a hypothesis on what they expect to be the behavior of a certain group of people versus the other. They make inferences based on what they know about the two groups. They then take their variables into account, and conduct the experiment in order to collect data. They can make a conclusion based on the result. Psychology has a close connection to the scientific method and the science field in general.
Many other occupations and areas of study beside science use the scientific method, such as sociology, criminology, and so on. The importance to so many studies and occupations makes it a concept that should be more recognized. Interestingly enough, humans use the scientific method more often than they are aware of. A toddler is a perfect example of how the Scientific Method is used in human behavior. If a toddler looks at an iron, they wonder what would happen if they touch it. They make a hypothesis, predicting it might be okay to touch. They make the inference that it might be dangerous based on how their parent tells them not to touch it. Whether they choose to account for this inference is their choice. Their independent variable may be how long their hand may rest on the iron, while the dependent variable is the outcome of touching the iron. They conduct the experiment, placing their hand on the iron, and they collect data. They conclude that the iron is hot enough to cause a severe burn, and remove their hand once the pain has occurred. They also make the conclusion that they should not touch the iron ever again. Energy / heat transfer is a theory that explains why the phenomena of the stove and hand contact occurs. This toddler went through the entire process of Scientific Inquiry and will continue to engage in the Scientific Method all throughout their life. This is why the Process of Scientific Inquiry must be brought to the attention of more people of all ages; so that they understand the process they are going through, and so that they understand they are being scientists in the process of doing so. And hopefully, making the Scientific Method more widely known, more people will feel compelled to contribute to join the scientific community in the journey to engage deeper into science.
Works Cited:
Ryan, M., & O'Callaghan, A.(n.d.). The Scientific Method. Retrieved March 31, 2018, from https://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/cd/2002/fs0266.pdf
Boundless Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2018, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/the-scientific-method/
One of the most important aspects of the Scientific Method is how widespread it already is within the scientific community. The University of Nevada states that “The Scientific Method is not the only way, but is the best-known way to discover how and why the world works, without our knowledge being tainted by religious, political, or philosophical values.” Scientists from all parts of the world use the Process of Scientific Inquiry in order to engage in scientific discoveries. It is an organized outline of the process scientists go through which helps us understand how scientists conduct investigations. It has also been used through history and has been the process many of past scientists have used to make discoveries important to knowledge today. If we did not have the Process of Scientific Inquiry, the scientists of the past would not have been able to make the discoveries and contribute to the scientific community.
The Process of Scientific Inquiry is used in many different studies and occupations in the world today, such as psychology. Psychology is the study of the aspects of human behavior and the mind. Psychologists, when conducting an experiment on the difference of human behavior, makes a hypothesis on what they expect to be the behavior of a certain group of people versus the other. They make inferences based on what they know about the two groups. They then take their variables into account, and conduct the experiment in order to collect data. They can make a conclusion based on the result. Psychology has a close connection to the scientific method and the science field in general.
Many other occupations and areas of study beside science use the scientific method, such as sociology, criminology, and so on. The importance to so many studies and occupations makes it a concept that should be more recognized. Interestingly enough, humans use the scientific method more often than they are aware of. A toddler is a perfect example of how the Scientific Method is used in human behavior. If a toddler looks at an iron, they wonder what would happen if they touch it. They make a hypothesis, predicting it might be okay to touch. They make the inference that it might be dangerous based on how their parent tells them not to touch it. Whether they choose to account for this inference is their choice. Their independent variable may be how long their hand may rest on the iron, while the dependent variable is the outcome of touching the iron. They conduct the experiment, placing their hand on the iron, and they collect data. They conclude that the iron is hot enough to cause a severe burn, and remove their hand once the pain has occurred. They also make the conclusion that they should not touch the iron ever again. Energy / heat transfer is a theory that explains why the phenomena of the stove and hand contact occurs. This toddler went through the entire process of Scientific Inquiry and will continue to engage in the Scientific Method all throughout their life. This is why the Process of Scientific Inquiry must be brought to the attention of more people of all ages; so that they understand the process they are going through, and so that they understand they are being scientists in the process of doing so. And hopefully, making the Scientific Method more widely known, more people will feel compelled to contribute to join the scientific community in the journey to engage deeper into science.
Works Cited:
Ryan, M., & O'Callaghan, A.(n.d.). The Scientific Method. Retrieved March 31, 2018, from https://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/cd/2002/fs0266.pdf
Boundless Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2018, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/the-scientific-method/
