SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AND SCIENTIFIC METHOD

scientific inquiry

We have been looking at the term "scientific", before numerous words since we were children, and we are quite familiar with it. So, what exactly does scientific inquiry entail? Scientific inquiry refers to the various ways in which scientists examine the natural world and provide interpretations based on the data obtained from their work, according to what I discovered on the internet.

Scientific inquiry refers to the blending of conventional science methods with scientific understanding, critical thinking, and scientific reasoning to produce scientific knowledge.

There are two major purposes of scientific investigation. For starters, it explains how scientific investigation is carried out in practice. Second, it explains why scientific inquiry succeeds in producing true knowledge at the conclusion of the process. Scientific inquiry goes beyond the acquisition of procedural skills like seeing, inferring, categorizing, forecasting, measuring, questioning, interpreting, and analyzing data, which must all happen in the right order for good scientific inquiry to take place.

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning in Scientific Study

The difference between deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning is, they move in opposite directions, inductive reasoning leads to broad generalizations from individual observations, whereas deductive reasoning leads to particular judgments or predictions from general principles.

Inductive reasoning:- It entails drawing broad conclusions based on thorough observation and analysis of a huge number of individual data points. Inductive thinking does not always lead to accurate generalizations.

Deductive reasoning:- Starts with a broad concept of law and applies it to a particular situation to anticipate specific outcomes. A scientist may extrapolate and anticipate particular findings based on a set of basic principles that will always be right as long as the general principles they start with are correct. The types of deductive reasoning are modus tollens, modus ponens and so on.

In descriptive science, inductive reasoning is most common, while hypothesis-based research uses deductive reasoning.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Our mind is fully involved with the act of observation, questioning, and seeking solutions via tests and experiments. Let's take a closer look at this.

The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. In science, the scientific method is a mathematical and experimental methodology. It is, more particularly, the method for constructing and evaluating a scientific hypothesis.

The Scientific Method: Steps and Terms

We've all heard the terms observation, hypothesis, and experiment at some point in our lives, whether in school or in college. The steps of the scientific process, on the other hand, may change from field to field. Chemists, geologists, philosophers, and others have their own set of stages, but the most common is,

     i.   Observation: - A statement of knowledge gained through the sense or through the use of scientific equipment.

   ii.   Question: - The proposal of the problem that we want to solve.

 iii.   Hypothesis: - Potential answers to the question at hand. (More like prediction)

  iv.   Experiment: - An ordered investigation that is intended to prove or disprove a hypothesis.

   v.   Analyze: - Comparing the results of the experiment to the prediction posed by the hypothesis.

  vi.   Conclusion: - A statement of whether the original hypothesis was supported or refuted by the observations gathered.

Using the Scientific Method to Solve a Real-World Problem

I'd want to describe a case in which I used the scientific approach to an issue.

Last week, I used an electric socket to plug my air purifier to purify the air in my room. Then I observed that my air purifier was not working. So, I asked myself a few questions. Is there an issue with the power outlet? or is my air purifier malfunctioning? So, I formed my hypothesis. If my charger didn’t work in the same socket then the issue is in the socket. If my charger is working, the problem is with the air purifier. As a result, I started my experiment by plugging the charger into the same outlet. Fortunately, the charger worked. I was able to come to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with the power socket after evaluating the facts. The issue stems from the air purifier itself. Then I phoned the company's customer service, and a repairman came out and rectified the problem.

This is just one direct example. When you follow the scientific approach, you will find that solving issues is a breeze.

SUMMARY

Scientific inquiry encompasses the many methods through which scientists investigate the natural world and provide interpretations based on the data gathered. In scientific research, deductive reasoning is utilized. The scientific method is an experimentation procedure that is used to investigate observations and find answers to problems. We can address a wide range of issues in nearly any sector by employing scientific methods.

"The man of science has learned to believe in justification, not by faith, but by verification."
-Thomas Huxley-