Science is a process that has evolved in order to determine the “how” of things in the natural world. Whereas philosophy speculates on the “why” and “how” of things, science questions only the “how”. Yet, the scientific approach to discovering knowledge about the natural world is a rigorous, methodical one. Science is systematic and exact and knowledge is uncovered through observation, study and experimentation, one “concerned with establishing and systematizing facts, principles, and methods, as by experiments and hypotheses” (Neufeldt 1202). An example of a science would be mathematics. Other disciplines such as biology, chemistry and physics are also sciences more than for any other reason because they adopt the scientific method as a way of discovering knowledge. The scientific method involves concepts such as objectivity, reliability, validity and replication of findings. The method outlines the “question-and-answer process of science and outlines the sequence of steps needed to answer a question about a phenomenon-a guide to the scientist’s decisions in conducting research. By adhering to the conventions of objective observation, control/balance of extraneous variance, and unbiased computation/analysis of data, the method ensures reproducibility of findings via empiricism” (Sterner 374). In other words, the process is conducted without personal feelings, emotions or world views on behalf of the scientist entering into the research equation. The basis underlying the scientific method is one of objectivity and the discovery of truth from observing things as they truly are in the natural world.
One of the principles underlying science and the scientific method is that nothing can exist or occur if there is not a cause or causal agent responsible. The causative agent produces the effect observed, discovered through objective observation grounded in empiricism. To disco
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