Verified Document

Use Of The Scientific Method Essay

Related Topics:

Reliability of Eyewitness Testimony

The Scientific Method
The scientific method is one of the most commonly utilized mechanisms in physical science to develop and conduct experiments. This method consists of several sequential steps, which are reflections of what happens during the scientific process. The use of the scientific method in conducting experiments is influenced by its ability to help lessen experimental bias and errors, which contribute towards poor results. Through lessening bias and errors in experiments, the scientific method enhances the reliability and accuracy of the results, which in turn enhances the researcher's confidence. The sequential steps in this method contribute to achievement of accurate results through proper organization of thoughts and procedures by scientists when performing an experiment (Science Made Simple, n.d.).

As a result of its capability to produce accurate results in experiments, the scientific method can be applied to problems or challenges in a particular field of study or everyday life. An example of a field and problem that could benefit from the application of the scientific method is the criminal justice field with regards to the reliability of eyewitness testimony. According to Bohannon (2014), eyewitness testimony is one of the crucial elements in the criminal justice field that has considerable outcomes on the outcomes of a case. However, the reliability of eyewitness testimony has been a major issue for professional in the criminal justice field. This is a major concern because of the fact that an individual may not have accurate memory of an event and the likelihood to criminal investigation to distort eyewitness' memory (Stambor, 2006).

In light of the significance of this issue, the scientific method can be applied to determine the reliability of eyewitness testimony during criminal proceedings. In this case, I would follow each of the steps of the scientific method to examine and generate conclusions on this issue. This process would entail conducting a research to understand...
I will focus on examining and understanding all factors that contribute to this problem, especially how criminal proceedings affect the ability of a witness to recall an event. Based on my understanding of the problem, I will then apply each of the steps of the scientific method in examining the issue. These logical and rational steps will be crucial towards generating accurate results to help in determining the reliability of eyewitness testimony.

Hypothesis



To conduct this experiment, the researcher has developed a hypothesis that will be tested when applying the scientific method. The hypothesis is, "When eyewitness testimony is used as evidence in a criminal proceeding, an accurate ruling is made by the court." The independent variable in this hypothesis is "eyewitness testimony" while the dependent variable is "the ruling of the court." The testing of this hypothesis will help in indicating the extent with which eyewitness testimony can be relied upon as an accurate representation of an event. It is expected that the use of the scientific method is examining this issue will highlight facts and issues that help in determining a suitable answer to the problem of reliability of eyewitness testimony. The expected outcomes of the actions employed in the application of the scientific method in analyzing this issue is that eyewitness testimony is a reliable piece of evidence that shapes the outcome of a case. The criterion that will be utilized to determine the success of these actions is the extent with which the relationship between the two variable is established. Generally, the use of the logical steps in the scientific method is expected to provide indicators on the level with which eyewitness testimony influences court decisions/rulings.

Actions for Testing the Hypothesis



As previously indicated, the determination of the reliability of eyewitness testimony will be based on the outcomes of…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Psychologists Use Scientific Methods to Study Behavior
Words: 580 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Psychologists Use Scientific Methods to Study behavior and mental processes. behavioral disorders. unconscious mental processes. the meaning of dreams. Cognitive psychology can best be described as the study of higher mental processes. the therapeutic applications of critical thinking. the area of psychology which attempts to reduce judgmental thinking. a subspecialty of psychology based exclusively on observation rather than experimentation. Who was a leading proponent of behaviorism in the United States until his/her death in 1990? Carl Rogers Skinner Ivan Pavlov Albert Bandura Charles Darwin argued

Scientific Method the Objective of This Study
Words: 1273 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Scientific Method The objective of this study is to examine the 'scientific method' of research. Towards this end, this study will examine the literature in this area of inquiry. The scientific method of research involves specific steps including those of: (1) defining the question of research; (2) location of resources and gathering of information; (3) formulation of a hypothesis or hypotheses; (4) planning of research collection methods; (5) collection of data; (6)

Scientific Methods the Law Enforcement in the
Words: 978 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Scientific Methods The law enforcement in the U.S.A. today is better equipped to handle the terrorism attacks and any terrorism threats than it was before the 9/11 incidence in America. This is evident in the general ways through which the security measures are implemented in the country and the intricate manner of investigations that take place to counter terrorism. Due to the nature of the data and information that is needed here,

Scientific Method
Words: 1044 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Scientific Method Scenario 1: You come home after a long day at work and you flip on the light switch and nothing happens; light does not come on. Now what? Miriam Webster's dictionary defines the scientific method as all of the "principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of

Scientific Method Is a Procedure That Was
Words: 1085 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Scientific method is a procedure that was developed over centuries to organize the steps in the procedures of scientific investigations. These steps were designed so that the results gathered by scientists would be considered to be verifiable and repeatable, and therefore correct. By using the scientific method, scientists use observations and hypothesis, in order to predict the outcome of an experiment, then conduct that experiment and draw conclusions from the

Scientific Method Is a Systematic Method of
Words: 1048 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Scientific method is a systematic method of testing hypotheses in research. The four steps are as follows: Step 1: "Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena" (Introduction to the scientific method, 2012, University of Rochester). The scientific method begins with existing research, and builds upon the research of other individuals in the field and/or observation of a particular phenomenon. Step 2: " formulation of a hypothesis to

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now