The scientific method involves collecting and analyzing information in an unbiased manner to accurately represent observable phenomena. There are several standard steps, including making observations, formulating a research question and hypothesis, designing an experiment, determining the research type (observational or experimental), obtaining ethical clearance, collecting and analyzing data, writing results in a manuscript, and seeking publication. The overall goal is to produce replicable results through a process of observation, hypothesis testing, experimentation, and verification or falsification of results.

1. Scientific Research Steps
By
Dr. Amin Al-Ashtal
PhD Candidate at University of Bergen - Norway

2. The scientific method is a process by
which scientific information is
collected,
analyzed, and
reported
in order to produce
unbiased and
replicable
results in an effort to provide an
accurate representation of
observable phenomena.

3. To reach this goal, the following scientific
steps must be followed:
1- Making an observation:-
- Observation of a phenomenon, examples:
- Exercise decrease weight.
- Thalidomide causes congenital missing of ribs.
- Persistent force can cause tooth movement.

4. 1- Making an observation Continued,
- Formulating of research question:
- Does persistent force cause tooth movement?

5. 2- Formulating a hypothesis:
- Literature review ( original articles and books)
- Hypothesis:
“Persistent tooth movement appears to cause tooth
movement”

6. 3- Designing an Experiment:
- Design an experiment that will yield the data
necessary to validly test a hypothesis.
- Depend on data that you want to collect.

7. 4- Determine your research type:
A- Observational Research:
1- Cross-sectional study, ex. Prevalence of
dental caries in Yemen or Sana’a city or UST.
2- Case-Control study (backward), ex. Causes
of cancer or periodontitis.
3- Cohort study (forward), ex. Causes of cancer
or periodontitis.

8. 4- Determine your research type:
B- Experimental Research:
1- Randomized clinical trials
2- Non-randomized clinical trials
Ex. Zinc supplements can prevent or reduce severe
diarrhea in children
Ex. MTA has less micro-leakage than gutta-percha

10. 5- Proposal:
1- Introduction ( Justify the study (rationale) + aim)
2- Methods ( Study design and type )
3- Statistical analysis plan
6- Ethical Clearance:
Any research involving humans or animals must be
conducted according to Helsinki declaration to avoid
violation of human rights.

11. 7- Data collection:
- Design a good case sheet for any type of research.
- Make it easy to transfer to Spss.
8- Data transfer:
- From case sheets to Spss.
- Start the process early during data collection.
- Must be done by the researcher to avoid mistakes.

12. 9- Data Analysis:
- Requires good knowledge of biostatistics & Spss.
- Statistician may be consulted in difficult analysis
types, but not for the whole process.
10- Writing the article(manuscript) or thesis:
- Good proposal saves time.
- Scientific writing ( IMRAD )

13. 10- Writing the article(manuscript) or thesis:
- Introduction: (same as proposal)
- Use up to date references
- Take the advantage of endnote software ( it
saves a lot of time and effort)
- Methods: ( same as proposal unless certain
modifications were necessary during data collection)
- Results:
- Explain your results without making any
interpretation or comparisons with other studies.
- Use tables and figures where necessary.

14. 10- Writing the article(manuscript) or thesis:
- Discussion:
- Justify your methods.
- Interpret your results, try to show why these
results are important.
- Compare with other researches and show
the difference or compliance.
- Mention the limitations of the study.
- Make summary of conclusions.
- Recommend future investigations if needed.

15. 11- Publishing:
- A well-designed and conducted study
MUST be published.
- Try to publish in a Pubmed indexed journal.
- Read the Author guidelines carefully and follow
them.
- May require slight modification of your ready
manuscript.

16. Tosen Takk
‫بالنرويجي‬ ‫شكر‬ ‫الف‬ 