MSMS 6210, BCOR 5580 Scientific Method and Experimental Design

The scientific method is the process by which scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an accurate (that is, reliable, consistent and non-arbitrary) representation of the world.

The Scientific Method, as presented in many textbooks, is oversimplified. This site attempts to examine a more accurate representation of the process of science.

An experiment deliberately imposes a treatment on a group of objects or subjects in the interest of observing the response. This differs from an observational study, which involves collecting and analyzing data without changing existing conditions. Because the validity of a experiment is directly affected by its construction and execution, attention to experimental design is extremely important.