The Scientific Method Today

In December 1967, Christiaan Barnard performed the world's first human heart transplant in Cape Town, South Africa.

Before reaching a conclusion that the operation was successful, Dr. Barnard suspended judgment in order to observe and gather more information from the patient.

Suspend judgment if you think the Japanese are only imitators. Japan made great strides by just being innovative. Learning to be a good innovator is the first step on the road to creativity. Today, Japan is quickly becoming more creative.

To remain competitive, You Must Become a Better Innovator and More Creative!

Stage #10 :

SUSPEND JUDGMENT

Throughout a project, a good researcher has an open mind and a skeptical, but practical, attitude, always suspending judgment to some degree.

You have spent a lot of time and effort to reach a final conclusion, do not "fall in love" with your final hypothesis. Watch for other concepts or trains of thought.

An excellent description of this ingredient was given by Dr. Crooks in his 1958 paper.Discussing the ingredient of "Suspended Judgment," he stated:

The investigator must stick to his conclusion until it is proved wrong, but he must keep an open mind and be ready to accept new evidence or speculations if sufficiently convincing. He is therefore ready to adjust his own views if they are untenable. This is the crux of the scientific attitude: an abiding faith in some view or opinion allied to a healthy skepticism; a questioning challenging doubt of new ideas; but a mind definitely open to new ideas. This sounds conflicting, but it is not. The true scientist or the citizen with a scientific attitude is no bigoted stand-patter, but he is no wishy-washy turn-coat either; he does not go chasing after strange idols just because they are new, nor does he condemn another idea just because it is old. He realizes that truth is not simple, that knowledge is forever growing, and that opinions thought correct today in the light of present knowledge may be thought incorrect tomorrow because of new discoveries or the projection of new ideas.

There can be great flexibility in the order in which SM-14 ingredients are utilized. Ingredients are numbered and in their usual order of use.

Utilizing the ingredients in solving a problem, you may often:

Never refer to the ingredients assteps or rules! However, in many of the methods used under the ingredients, there may be steps or rules to follow.

Educators and employers increasingly stress the importance of verbal and written communication skills. There is a movement to teach writing across the curricula.

Develop proficiency in the following: