Scientific Method

Make your decisions objectively, and actively try to break your own ideas.

To fine-tune your game, use the same strategy that scientists have been using for hundreds of years: the scientific method.

There are slight variations in how the scientific method is defined. Here is a version that includes many of the key variations:

1. Question. Define the problem you're trying to solve, or the question you're trying to answer.
2. Research. Review existing material on the subject.
3. Hypothesis. Based on your research, try to predict the solution to your problem. Think of this as making an educated guess.
4. Experiment. Conduct an experiment to test whether your hypothesis is correct.
5. Analyze and Conclude. Review the findings of your experiment and check if your hypothesis was correct.
6. Share, Reproduce, and Iterate. Share your findings with other interested parties. Attempt to replicate the findings so you know your experiment wasn't an anomaly. Repeat the scientific method with new questions based on your prior findings to increase your knowledge.

It's important to understand that the goal of the scientific method is not to prove yourself right, it's to increase your knowledge. You should be actively trying to break your own ideas and preconceptions. Any increase in knowledge should be celebrated, regardless of whether your findings are what you expected. Failed experiments are just as important as successful ones because eliminating possibilities gets you closer to a solution.

Further Study:

• The Scientific Method - Khan Academy
• The Scientific Method - Wikipedia