What's so special about the scientific method?

• Empirical approach, control, attitude

When scientists talk about the scientific method, they don't refer to a particular technique or piece of equipment. Instead, the scientific method is a way of thinking and making decisions. Of course, we all think and make decisions every day. What makes the scientific method so special? To answer this question, we can compare the scientific method to our 'everyday' ways of thinking and making decisions.

Each day, you make judgments and decisions using your intuition — what 'feels right' or what 'seems reasonable.' Usually, this works fine for us — but not for scientists. The scientific method uses an empirical approach for making judgments and decisions. An empirical approach emphasizes direct observation and experimentation.

Observation and experimentation in science is systematic and controlled. In fact, control is the essential ingredient of science. By having control over their observations, scientists isolate and study various factors one at a time. This is why most scientific research, including psychological research, is done in laboratories. Research labs provide an opportunity for psychologists to control and isolate the factors they think have important effects on behavior and mental processes. In everyday life, our behavior is influenced by many different factors, all operating together. Scientists try to 'tease apart' all these factors and study them one at a time. This is the essence of controlled observation and experimentation.

In order to think like a scientist, you have to have 'an attitude.' In our everyday life, we often accept explanations and claims uncritically. In fact, we may become excited to read about new weight loss pills or tape recordings that we play under our pillow at night to get better grades or earn more money. The scientific attitude, however, is one of caution and skepticism.

Scientists recognize that there are no easy explanations or 'quick fixes.' Humans are complex — many factors interact to influence behavior and mental processes. So, scientists are skeptical when they hear a claim. We should withhold judgment until we can evaluate the evidence for the claim. And importantly, we should know what kind of evidence is offered to support the claim. The best evidence comes from an empirical approach — systematic and controlled observation and experimentation.

Several websites provide information about scientific skepticism. Try these:

http://psg.com/~ted/bcskeptics/ratenq?Re3.3-Attitude.html

http://www.psychology.org/links/Resources/Pseudoscience/

http://www.apa.org/pubinfo