Aquaculture Resources: The Scientific Method

Source: ArchonMagnus. Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Scientific Method is a cyclic/iterative process of continuous improvement:

[Based on General Theories,] Make Observations: What do I see in nature? This can be from one's own experiences, thoughts, or reading. 

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Think of Interesting Questions: Why does that pattern occur?

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Formulate Hypotheses: What are the general causes of the phenomenon I am wondering about?

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Develop Testable Predictions: If my hypothesis is correct, then I expect a, b, c, ...

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Gather Data to Test Predictions: Relevant data can come from the literature, new observations or formal experiments. Thorough testing requires replication to verify results.

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Refine, Alter, Expand or Reject the Hypothesis and Develop New Testable Predictions 

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Develop General Theories: These must be consistent with most or all available data and with other current theories.