This document discusses scientific methods of research. It begins by defining scientific methods as systematic observation, measurement, experimentation, and formulation of questions or hypotheses to develop general knowledge about natural phenomena. It then lists the characteristics of scientific methods, including being orderly, attempting to control external factors, being based on empirical evidence, and allowing findings to be generalized. The purposes of scientific methods are described as description, exploration, explanation, prediction, control, and identifying relationships. The document outlines the typical steps of scientific methods, from selecting a topic to collecting and analyzing data. It concludes by discussing limitations of scientific methods when applied to humans, such as ethical issues, difficulty measuring human behavior, and inability to fully control external variables.

1. UNIT-I (d): SCIENTIFIC
METHODS OF
RESEARCH
Ms. Chanda Jabeen
Lecturer
RN, RM, BSN
M.Phil. Epidemiology & Public Health
PhD (Scholar) Epidemiology & Public Health
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2. OBJECTIVES
At the end of this session, the students will be
able to:
 Define Scientific methods.
 Discuss Characteristics Of Scientific
Methods.
 Explain Purposes Of Scientific Methods.
 Discuss Steps Of Scientific Methods.
 Explain Limitations Of Scientific Methods.
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3. DEFINITION OF SCIENTIFIC
METHODS
“ Scientific methods consists of systematic
observation, measurement, experiment, and the
formulation of questions or hypotheses. The
scientific method has been the gold standard for
investigating the natural world. It is how
scientists correctly arrive at new knowledge, and
update their previous knowledge. ”
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4. DEFINITION OF SCIENTIFIC METHODS
(con…)
OR
“ Scientific methods are defined as controlled,
systematic investigations that are rooted in
objective reality & that aim to develop general
knowledge about natural phenomena. ”
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5. CHARACTERISTICS OF
SCIENTIFIC METHODS
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1) They are orderly & systematic processes.
2) Scientists attempt to control external factors that are
not under direct investigation.
3) Their findings are based on the empirical evidences.
4) Findings of scientific methods can be generalized,
which means that they can be used in situations
other than the one under study.
5) Scientific methods are based on assumptions or
hypothesis.
6) They are basically conduced to develop or test
hypothesis.

6. PURPOSES OF SCIENTIFIC
METHODS
The basic purposes of scientific methods
are description, exploration,
explanation, prediction, control, and
identification of relationship of the
facts.
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7. STEPS OF SCIENTIFC
METHODS
1) Selecting the topic & identifying the research
problem.
2) Defining the objectives of the study.
3) Reviewing the literature from theory & other
related studies.
4) Defining concepts & variables to be studied.
5) Stating hypothesis about expected.
observations or phenomenon to be studied.
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8. STEPS OF SCIENTIFC METHODS (con…)
6) Identifying assumptions & implications.
7) Determining the ethical implication of the
proposed study.
8) Describing the research design & methods
for data collection.
9) Defining study population & sample.
10) Planning the data analysis & discussion.
11) Collecting data from subjects.
12) Analyzing &interpreting data.
13) Communicating finding of the study.
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9. LIMITATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC
METHODS
1. Moral or ethical problem
2. Human complexity
3. Measurement problems
4. External variable control
problems
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10. 1. MORAL OR ETHICAL PROBLEM
 Most nursing studies would require humans as
the subject of their research.
 The constraint of involving humans, which is
essential for observing human behavior for
experimentation, is one such ethical problem.
 Thus, reliable scientific data cannot always be
collected.
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11. 2. HUMAN COMPLEXITY
 Human behavior is complicated, subtle &
varied.
 It is very difficult to categorize human
behavior when human behavior is studied &
analyzed by other human beings, the personal
biases come into the picture & distort the
analytical facts.
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12. 3. MEASUREMENT PROBLEMS
 Different aspects of human behavior are
psychological in nature, which cannot be
accurately measured.
 Human behavior is not uniform, certain, or
predictable.
 All the people do not behave in the same
way in similar circumstances.
 Therefore, with humans as subjects,
measurement becomes a challenge.
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13. 4. EXTERNAL VARIABLE CONTROL
PROBLEMS
 Scientific studies conducted on humans may
have a limitation of weak or no control over
external variables in scientific activity.
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14. References
Augustine, R. (2016).Nursing Research Made Easy. Jaypee
Brothers Publishers.
Basavanthappa, B. T. (2007). Nursing Research.(2nded.). Jaypee
Brothers Publishers.
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