Does the scientific method necessarily always produce reliable and valid knowledge?
Scientific method is an epistemological system used by the scientists to investigate natural phenomena, developing new knowledge or correcting preceding knowledge (Jennings, 2008:5). It is considered the best objective framework to construct an accurate representation of the world, it include ideas, procedures, rules, techniques and modes which exist in theoretical research, applied research, development and promotion of scientific activities. This essay aim to prove that although the scientific method does not necessarily always produces reliable and valid knowledge, it is stills a most reasonable inference to help human understand natural phenomena. Therefore, at the first, the basic steps of the scientific method will be introduced. Then the objectivity of the scientific method will be discussed. In addition, some philosophical problems about scientific method will be discussed at the end of the essay.
Between the scientific method and other methods of access to knowledge has a different feature: scientists tried to let the facts prove themselves (Ziman, 2000:158). In order to let the facts prove themselves, scientists must follow a series of steps and steps constitute the scientific method. These steps involve observation, hypothesis, prediction, experiment and reproduction. According to Gower (2002) these steps can be described as following: scientists first collect the observed information to be studied and then put forward a preliminary hypothesis to explain the observations. The hypothesis often is bold guesswork because there is no technique method to create hypothesis. Next, scientists consider which information is useful to test the hypothesis and gather the information by observation or experiments. Scientists usually share and discuss the obtained information with peers who are also doing research in the same area (Jennings, 2008:6). Scientists can help each other through the sharing and exchange of information; this is an important part to promote
Between the scientific method and other methods of access to knowledge has a different feature: scientists tried to let the facts prove themselves (Ziman, 2000:158). In order to let the facts prove themselves, scientists must follow a series of steps and steps constitute the scientific method. These steps involve observation, hypothesis, prediction, experiment and reproduction. According to Gower (2002) these steps can be described as following: scientists first collect the observed information to be studied and then put forward a preliminary hypothesis to explain the observations. The hypothesis often is bold guesswork because there is no technique method to create hypothesis. Next, scientists consider which information is useful to test the hypothesis and gather the information by observation or experiments. Scientists usually share and discuss the obtained information with peers who are also doing research in the same area (Jennings, 2008:6). Scientists can help each other through the sharing and exchange of information; this is an important part to promote