Important Characteristics of Scientific Method

1. Empirical

Scientific method is concerned with the realities that are observable through “sensory experiences.” It
generates knowledge which is verifiable by experience or observation. Some of the realities could be
directly observed, like the number of students present in the class and how many of them are male and
how many female. The same students have attitudes, values, motivations, aspirations, and commitments. 
These are also realities which cannot be observed directly, but the researchers have designed ways to
observe these indirectly.  Any reality that cannot be put to “sensory experience” directly or indirectly
(existence of heaven, the Day of Judgment, life hereafter, God’s rewards for good deeds) does not fall
within the domain of scientific method.

2. Verifiable

Observations made through scientific method are to be verified again by using the senses to confirm or
refute the previous findings. Such confirmations may have to be made by the same researcher or others. 
We will place more faith and credence in those findings and conclusions if similar findings emerge on
the basis of data collected by other researchers using the same methods.  To the extent that it does
happen (i.e. the results are replicated or repeated) we will gain confidence in the scientific nature of our
research.  Replicability, in this way, is an important characteristic of scientific method.  Hence
revelations and intuitions are out of the domain of scientific method. 

3.  Cumulative

Prior to the start of any study the researchers try to scan through the literature and see that their study is
not a repetition in ignorance.  Instead of reinventing the wheel the researchers take stock of the existing
body of knowledge and try to build on it.  Also the researchers do not leave their research findings into
scattered bits and pieces.  Facts and figures are to be provided with language and thereby inferences
drawn.  The results are to be organized and systematized.  Nevertheless, we don’t want to leave our
studies as stand alone. A linkage between the present and the previous body of knowledge has to be
established, and that is how the knowledge accumulates.  Every new crop of babies does not have to
start from a scratch; the existing body of knowledge provides a huge foundation on which the
researchers build on and hence the knowledge keeps on growing.

4.  Deterministic

Science is based on the assumption that all events have antecedent causes that are subject to
identification and logical understanding. For the scientist, nothing “just happens” – it happens for a
reason. The scientific researchers try to explain the emerging phenomenon by identifying its causes.  Of
the identified causes which ones can be the most important? For example, in the 2006 BA/BS
examination of the Punjab University 67 percent of the students failed.  What could be the determinants
of such a mass failure of students?  The researcher may try to explain this phenomenon and come up
with variety of reasons which may pertain to students, teachers, administration, curriculum, books,
examination system, and so on.  Looking into such a large number of reasons may be highly
cumbersome model for problem solution.  It might be appropriate to tell, of all these factors which one
is the most important, the second most important, the third most important, which two in combination
are the most important.  The researcher tries to narrow down the number of reasons in such a way that
some action could taken.  Therefore, the achievement of a meaningful, rather than an elaborate and
cumbersome, model for problem solution becomes a critical issue in research. That is parsimony which
implies the explanation with the minimum number of variables that are responsible for an undesirable
situation.