Is the Scientific Method Used by Real Scientists?

The scientific method is taught to students in science classes at young ages. We’re all familiar with the routine and most likely have gone through the process once or twice for experiments in class. What about scientists though, do they actually utilize this system to design experiments in the practical setting of their field? I’ve asked a couple scientists from different fields what approach they take when designing an experiment and received interesting responses.

                The first response I received was from a paleontologist, Dr. Bulinski. She described everything from what begins her desire to experiment to every detail that follows in creating and performing the experiment itself. She, in fact, does follow the scientific method to a T. The scientific method seems like it is more practical for certain fields than others. In Bulinski’s response she states, “I do use the scientific method and my research is very much the exploratory kind—devising questions, crafting hypotheses that may be potential answers to those questions gathering observations and data to help me answer those questions and then interpreting the results.” Earlier in her response she discusses her belief that for a hands-on field such as paleontology, the scientific method is highly useful in order to organize an experiment. To me, it almost seems like a natural order of events that unfold, revealing the totality of the experiment.

            For other areas of science, such as biochemistry, the scientific method may seem less relevant to the importance of the study. When I asked Dr. Krzysiak, director of biochemistry and molecular biology at Bellarmine University, about her position on the scientific method she responded, “I believe the scientific method has its place, but it is not effective in the majority of biochemistry research.” She goes on to say that she doesn’t use the scientific method in her experiments, but she does use some of the basic ideas behind it. Her method involves the act of generating a question after an experiment or observation, designing an experiment based on the question, performing the experiment, and repeating the process as new questions arise. She does not generate a hypothesis. The question, in her process, serves the same role as a hypothesis.

            I think that the scientific method does not necessarily need to be followed step-by-step, every time. As long as the basic ideas and components are included, a well-designed experiment can be produced and be just as functional as one that follows the exact process of the scientific method.