About the Scientific Method

Abstract

The Scientific Method is the sequence of steps that must be followed to obtain knowledge that is valid from the perspective of science. This method, which governs the way we do research, rests on two main pillars: reproducibility and refutability.

Reproducibility implies that a given experiment should be able to be reproduced by anyone anywhere, although not necessarily obtaining the same results. This is why we insist that the conclusions reached by a given researcher cannot and should not be taken as an absolute law, since statistics tell us that such a result may be the result of chance and that only by repeating it can we be sure of the veracity of the conclusions reached. One of the biggest mistakes made by modern researchers is to pursue the scoop of a finding and want to be the first to say or find something, which is nothing more than an attempt to satisfy the ego. It is just as important to repeat studies performed by others and see if the same results are obtained under identical circumstances. It is these subsequent evaluations that give value to the results of an investigation and that allow us to establish the usefulness of applying them globally in the general population.