What is Scientific Research
Scientific research is a rigorous process of validating assumptions through empirical investigations. As a researcher, you must prepare your mind for the rigorous process. Compliance with the principles guiding empirical research has no alternative. You must understand the principles and practice of the research to be able to carry out a successful Scientific research.
Scientific research reveals a lot about the unknown. It aims to uncover and explain how and why certain events occur.
It lets us test, determine, and even recreate each phenomenon. This systematic process allows us to create case studies and understand their workings further.
Scientific research is the pillar for various fields of study, such as psychology and chemistry. It helps explain and prove theories. It also helps in finding ways to address problems and find the needed solutions.
Basic scientific research, including, without limitation;
(a) in vitro or in vivo research (but not clinical) studies directed to understanding biological sciences,
(b) research directed to the identification and discovery of genetic targets for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, including, without limitation, high throughput screening and screening for new genetic targets for genetic polymorphisms or product development, and
(c) research studies directed to understanding environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, forensic sciences, chemical sciences, cosmetic sciences, and related industrial applications.
scientific research means study and exploration into questions posed by theories and hypotheses, and defined by measurable steps or operations. Scientific research is used to evaluate, estimate, analyze, and address the possible impact on, or of, OHV Recreation and develop responsive management recommendations.
Methods of Scientific Research
Here are the five major methods of scientific research:
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Scientific research is empirical
Scientists are concerned with a world that is knowable through the five senses, not esoteric or superstitious world. Empiricism derives from experience.
Scientists must be able to perceive, classify and measure the subject with which they deal. If a scientist deals with abstract notions and ideas, she must strictly define such ideas and notions.
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Scientific research is systematic and cumulative
A good researcher always builds upon previous studies. This requires doing a good literature review in the area of concern.
In addition, science attempts to search for order and consistency among their findings. Also, a research work is made up of many parts operating together as a
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Scientific research is predictive
It is concerned with relating the present to the future. This is why scientists seek to develop theories because they are useful for predicting future.
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Scientific research is objective
Science attempts to rule out the eccentricities of judgment by researchers. Explicit rules and procedures are constructed and the researcher is bound to follow them. As earlier said, the outcome of a research should be independent of the researcher’s biases.
Objectivity, for it to be achieved, requires many cautions and rigorous steps. One is that scientific research must deal with facts, not interpretation of facts.
This is because interpretation is prone to being subjective. An outcome of objectivity is that two or more researchers working with the same instruments, subjects, and in similar environment will come up with similar finding.
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Scientific research is public
It is not a private ownership of one person, and no researcher can plead private knowledge, method or data in arguing for the accruing of his/her findings. Both the method and the findings must be freely communicated publicly among the community of researchers.
Researchers must take great care to include in their publications details of the ‘what’s’ (the problem investigated), ‘why’s’ (significance of the study) and ‘how’s’ (the methodology) of their work.
