1. Environment and Sustainable Development (GST 205)   Scientific Methodology: Theories & Methods Dr. Abiala M. A
Environment and Sustainable Development by Dr. Abiala M. A is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

2. Introduction
Scientists observe the world around them and collect facts.
Living things
Non- Living things
Interactions of both living and non-living (Interaction between a student and his pen or her gum)
Design experiments
These facts might eventually allow scientists to learn enough about the world around them so they can develop ideas that help us understand how the natural world works.

3. The problem of saying what is scientific and what is not is called the demarcation problem.
This demarcation problems must be evidence based on solid evidence using different methods.

4. What is Scientific Methodology?
Is the logical and rational order of steps by which scientists come to conclusions about the world around them
also
The scientific method helps to organize thoughts and procedures so that scientists can be confident in the conclusions they reach.

5. However,
Church / Faith/ Doctrine and Scientific Evidence ….are they parallel or perpendicular
Our goal will be to determine whether we should believe in what science tells us or be neutral about them.

6. What to know under scientific methodology
This process is repeated as often as needed to reach a conclusion based on observation and experimentation.
Scientific investigation is a continuous process
A scientist is never done searching for answers.

7. Scientific method
Is a systematic process that involves using measurable observations to formulate, test or modify ……….
It can also be referred to as the process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. Does this mean all scientists follow exactly this process? No. Some areas of science can be more easily tested than others because in some cases direct experimentation is not possible, scientists modify the scientific method, e,g growth period between plants and animals.
Carefully gathering and examining the evidence, and seeing if all the available information can be combined in to a logical answer.

8. Hypothesis
Is a proposed explanation for some observed phenomenon, based on experience or research.
Scientific investigation is a concept of developing better models and explanations for the world around them.

9. iterative process?

10. Steps Associated with Scientific Methodology
Ask a question
…..that is …identify a problem, or many problems
E.g why some plants are green and some are yellow?
Why some people are short and others tall?
Why do we have dusty weather towards early January?
What causes typhoid?
Why do reverend use Bishop collar?

11. Construct Hypothesis
A hypothesis is proposed that can be tested as true or false, yes or no.
That is, the answer you have arrived at will become your hypothesis for this investigation, which will be tested by an experiment or simple observation.

12. Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
Your experiment tests whether your prediction is accurate
thus your hypothesis is supported or not.
You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change only one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same.

13. Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
Data can be represented using graphs, pie charts or tables.
Scientists often find that their predictions were not accurate….
This starts much of the process of the scientific method over again

14. Communicate Your Results
Publishing their final report in a scientific journal
scientific meetings
Conferences
Workshops
e.t.c

15. Ask another question Why?

16. Scientific Theory
To scientists, a theory is a coherent explanation for a large number of facts and observations

17. internally consistent and compatible with the evidence
firmly grounded in and based upon evidence
tested against a wide range of phenomena
demonstrably effective in problem-solving

18. Scientific Law
When overwhelming evidence is obtained over a period of time to support scientific theory,
the theory becomes a scientific law.
A scientific law is a description of a natural phenomenon or principle that invariably holds true under specific conditions and will occur under certain circumstances…..law of gravity (e.g paper, stone, balloon), e.g drinking of faecal contaminated water can cause Typhoid.
Environment and Sustainable Development by Dr. Abiala M. A is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.