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The Scientific Method Today

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Anthropologist and author Margaret Mead had a lifetime goal to learn about human nature.

Her research answered basic questions about human personality.

Her plan of action included college study, specialized training, and actually living with primitive societies to observe and study them.

It was due to careful planning that Gregor Mendel was successful in his experiments with pea plants which provided new insight into the laws of heredity.

His goal was to find out how characteristics of parents are passed on to offspring.

Sub-Problems
An experienced problem solver soon learns that you should break any complex problem down, separate, and solve the sub-problems and the sub-sub-problems before attacking the main problem.

Stage #3 :

GOALS & PLANNING

GOALS - End results you want to achieve
in solving a problem

Goals must be realistic, flexible, and subject to change.

Put goals in writing. This helps analyze priorities and avoid carelessness.

Consider methods, processes, technologies, systems, strategies, and formulas needed.

Set target dates for stages and completion.

Learn to process information efficiently.

In considering goals, think about:

Real purpose involved	Time/budget	Long & short term goals
Future consequences	Sub-goals	Criteria to use
Values to use	Your basic needs	Revising as required
Perfection not always needed	Where goal is leading	Measurability / specific end

PLANNING - How to reach your goals.
Always Think & Plan Ahead.

Planning speeds solutions and avoids wasted time and effort. Put plans in writing.

Develop a plan to use today's huge computer databases of information.

Abstract and Outline: theories, concepts and basic principles involved in the problem.

Consider breaking down into sub-problems; each may require a plan.

Plan must be flexible. When working on complex, ill-structured problems, things will change frequently. Thus, don't start with too detailed a plan.

Plan for overall solution. Preliminary program for each ingredient of SM-14.

At start of work on each ingredient, prepare revised program for this ingredient.

Compile tentative solutions. Know the scope of areas you are going to search.

Experiment and test. Watch for methods to test tentative solutions.

Similar problems may have been solved before. Review records to benefit from experiences.

Use Intuition and Insightto save time and aid direction.

Build your team and involve its members in goals and planning.

When solving ill-structured problems tolerate ambiguities.

Plan how to control constants and variables.

A few other things to consider in your planning:

Keep log book	Methods, strategies	Time, budget, priorities
Utilize sketches and diagrams	Start with easiest sub-problems	List factors contributing to solution
Criteria to meet or establish	Build up your library and files	Supplies, facilities, instruments
Models, analogies	Algorithms	Impact on society
Alternate plans	Emotions, stress	Trial and error
Approvals and decisions of others	Laws, licenses, legalities, patent search	Apply innovations and creativity
Watch for clues	Anticipate problems	Checking feedback
Thinking out loud	"Anything goes" theory	Assignment of responsibilities
Challenge assumptions	Resources available

Problem-based Learning -
Great Goal, But Poor Planning

There is a growing movement to tech law, medicine, engineering, business and other subjects by Problem-based Learning. In many instances those sponsoring this type of learning fail to: Include any formula for the stages and ingreidients of the scientific method, which is the master method of problem solving. Or use inadequate formulas - such as offering one that is too short. This situation is an example of the excellent goal of teaching problem solving, but poor planning and analysis of what is needed to accomplish the goal.

If you do not teach any formula when using problem-based learning programs, you fail to a great extent getting transfer of learning. Centuries of us of the scientific method have shown there are basic stages to reliable problem solving. SM-14 is a well-researched formula. After reviewing hundreds of other formulas, I have found SM-14 to be the best suited for problem solving.

SM-14 becomes a strategy that guides you in solving complex, ill-structured, real-world problems. It has evolved over the centuries since Galileo's time. another basic principle is that one learns to become an expert by solving a large number of problems, following a formula such as SM-14.

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