Humanity’s quest for knowledge is our most striking feature.
No other animal asks why or how things work, but humans aren’t content to enjoy the world as it is. We must ask why and tinker to make things better.
Throughout history, humans have sought ways to understand the world around them and use that knowledge to improve our lives.
But it took us a long time to develop a proven method of scientific discovery that reduced bias and ensured results. The scientific method evolved through the centuries, but became the standard way to conduct experiments.
What is the Scientific Method?
Science has evolved greatly over the centuries. Though the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was one of the first to consider a standardized way to consider the world’s problems, his theoretical approach was based on logic, and he lacked the technology to perform accurate experiments.
As understanding and technology grew, we refined our approach, and during the Scientific Revolution of the 16th-18th centuries, Sir Francis Bacon developed the first modern version of the scientific method, a methodology based on specific steps that help researchers solve scientific problems without bias.
Steps to the Scientific Method
Sir Francis Bacon and his famous scientist contemporaries (including Sir Isaac Newton) developed a basic set of steps one must take when conducting scientific research.
Today’s version consists of 7 basic steps (though some researchers tweak it to work better for them).
Step 1: Make an Observation
Science starts with observation. We observe the world around us and use that information to decide how to react.
Step 2: Ask a Question
The observation should spark curiosity. Step two is asking why it happens.
Of course, the question can be as broad or as narrow as you’d like, but it should be based on the observation. How, why, what happens next, what mechanism causes it, etc., are all valid questions the scientific method can explore.
Step 3: Form a Hypothesis
In step 3, we try to think of answers to the question. What are the potential causes? How might it work?
Here, we use our knowledge of the world to consider the most probable answers.
Step 4: Conduct an Experiment
A hypothesis is an educated guess, but we can’t prove anything without experimentation. We must design an experiment to show whether our guess is right or wrong.
Step 5: Analyze the Data
After the experiment, we must check all the data. Are there outliers? Is the hypothesis mostly correct, always correct, or never correct?
Step 6: Share Results
Step 6 is a fairly modern invention. We realized that humans are biased, and we may read something in the results that isn’t there.
Only by sharing our results with other experts can we ensure that we’re reading it right.
Step 7: Repeat
One experiment doesn’t prove anything. For something to be correct, it must be repeatable. The final step is redoing the experiment to ensure you didn’t miss any hidden variables. The repeat step also includes designing different experiments to test the hypothesis in a variety of ways.
Only when you’ve successfully conducted multiple experiments that show the same results can you elevate a hypothesis to a theory.
Why the Scientific Method Works
The scientific method works because it reduces bias. It’s a methodology of solving problems that’s based on logic, experimentation, and real data.
One of the best features of the scientific method is that it allows anyone to replicate and reproduce the experiments, showcasing that the result is, in fact, correct.
There’s no “trust me, bro,” about it; anyone can read the data and see the truth for themselves.
Why the Scientific Method Matters
I know, you’re probably asking why a lifestyle website about finding happiness and living your best life is covering the scientific method.
The scientific method stands as one of humanity’s crowning achievements. It’s a system based on logic, refined by hundreds of scientists over the centuries, that helps us gain a better understanding of how the world works. Why wouldn’t we cover such a glowing example of ingenuity?
But most importantly, the scientific method is a smart way to solve problems in your personal life. The scientific framework works for nearly any problem you can imagine, from issues in personal relationships to high-cost projects at work.
How to Use the Scientific Method
Most of us aren’t scientists, so we probably aren’t making observations about the world, forming hypotheses, and conducting experiments.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t relate to your life.
Here is how to use the framework at work, at home, and in relationships to help you take your emotions out of a problem and work toward a good solution that works for everyone.
Identify a Problem
Our lives abound with problems, from conflicting wants in a relationship to identifying ways to save money on a massive project at work.
All solutions, from the scientific to the personal, start with identifying the core problem.
That’s observation in a nutshell, isn’t it? You’re observing the problem by identifying it.
Finding Solutions
When confronted with a problem, we typically try to find solutions right away. But what if you took a step back and asked why the problem exists?
When you ask questions about the problem, you can dig into the core causes, which can lead you to better solutions.
Your potential solutions are similar to the hypothesis described in the scientific method.
Implementing the Solution
Now you test your hypothesis by implementing the solution. It’s similar to an experiment – you implement something new and see how it goes.
The experiment phase flows into the data analysis phase, where you determine whether your solution worked and decide if you need to tweak things to make it work better.
Sharing Results
Most of us don’t do any of this work in a bubble. We work with our teams (our partners and families at home, our coworkers in the office) to implement solutions.
We share what worked and what didn’t, and collaborate to improve the process.
Why You Should Use the Scientific Method
You’re probably already using a system similar to the scientific method to solve your personal problems without even realizing it. Understanding why the system works and using it correctly can help you identify better solutions to complex problems while reducing bias.
The tried and true framework works far beyond the lab, and if you use it, you’ll soon become a problem-solving expert everyone will want on their team.