The Scientific Method is a research method used mainly in the production of knowledge in science. To be called scientific, a research method must be based on empirical evidence and measurement, subject to specific principles of reasoning tests. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the scientific method is: “a method or procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting of systematic observation, measurement, experimentation, the formulation, analysis and modification of hypotheses.”
The stages of the scientific method are the following:
- Formulation of the research problem: That it is Nursing, with a precise, useful, novel and feasible formulation.
- Literature review and formulation of the theoretical framework: Search for bibliographic sources related to the problem posed. It is essential to collect everything that is of interest to support our work, remember that we will never give anything affirmed by us, we rely on the bibliography.
- Hypothesis formulation: One or several propositions that express the solution to the problem posed.
- Definition of terms and variables: We will define the variables as they interest us for our study and for the significance they later have for statistical calculations. We will talk about qualitative variables and quantitative variables. Due to their relationship and special importance in experimental studies, we divide the variables into:
- Independent variable . The variable that is manipulated. Let us consider that when we alter it in some way, a change will occur.
- Dependent variable . The variable we use for the study. Where we study the effect we have made with the manipulation. It is also called criterion.
- Intervening variable . Variables that act between independent and dependent variables. They must be controlled at all times, so that they do not influence the experiment.
- Selection of method and design: There are two types of methods:
- Quantitative research : Generates data or numerical information that can be converted into numbers. It focuses more on counting and classifying features and building statistical models and figures to explain what is observed.
- Qualitative research : Focuses on collecting primarily verbal information rather than measurements. Then, the information obtained is analyzed in an interpretive, subjective, impressionistic or even diagnostic way.