FIVE SCIENTIFIC

METHOD OF
INQUIRY
Objectives:
• Explain the different scientific
methods of inquiry
• Reflect on the role of different method
of inquiry
• Cite different examples of each
scientific method of inquiry
What is the Scientific
Method?
Introduction
 Two basic rules dominate the whole
process of induction:
1. Positive Principle- whenever a certain
antecedent (condition) is present, a
particular phenomenon always follows or
occurs; thus, the said antecedent is the
cause of the given phenomenon.
2. Negative Principle - Whenever a
phenomenon occurs in the absence of
a certain antecedent, this antecedent
cannot be the cause of the
phenomenon in question.
 These basic rules were given their
classic formulations and more explicit
expressions by British philosopher,
JOHN STUART MILL.
1. The method of Agreement
2. The method of Difference
3. The joint method of Agreement and
Difference
4. The method of Concomitant Variations
5. The method of Residues
 THE METHOD OF AGREEMENT
“ If two or more instances of the
phenomenon under investigation
have only one circumstance in
common, the circumstance in which
alone all the instances agree is the
cause or effect of the given
phenomenon’’.
 The application of the
general rule that the only
unchanging antecedent of
a given phenomenon is
probably the cause.
 THE METHOD OF DIFFERENCE
“If an instance in which the phenomenon
under investigation occurs, and in an
instance in which it does not occur, have
many instances in common save one, that
one occurring only in the former, the
circumstance in which alone the two
instances differ, is the effect, or the
cause, or an indispensable part of the
cause of the phenomenon.
 The application of the general
rule that a thing cannot be
the cause of a phenomenon
which is present when the
phenomenon does not occur.
THE JOINT METHOD OF AGREEMENT AND
DIFFERENCE

 A combination of the methods of agreement

and difference, the joint method looks for a
single commonality among two or more
instances of an event, and the joint method
looks for a common absence of that possible
cause.
Sample Possible Causes Phenomenon
Instances rice vegeta oyster Beef Pork lumpia pancit Present?
ble steak adobo
1 - ✓ ✓ - ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
2 ✓ ✓ - ✓ ✓ - ✓ ✓
3 ✓ - ✓ - ✓ ✓ - ✓
4 ✓ - ✓ - - ✓ - -
5 - - - ✓ - - ✓ -
6 - ✓ ✓ - - ✓ - -

The first three students are evidence that everyone

who got ill had eaten pork adobo, and the three
matching pairs are evidence that only those who got
ill had eaten pork adobo.
 THE METHOD OF CONCOMITANT
VARIATIONS
 correlations between varying events are
sought, that is, correspondence in variations
between two sets of objects, events, or data.
 is the method in which a quantitative
change in the effect is associated with
quantitative changes in a given factor.
 Example:

If you car makes a funny noise

when you accelerate, you might
take your foot off the pedal and
see whether the noise goes away.
 THE METHOD OF RESIDUES
 all known causes of a complex set of events
are subtracted. What is leftover is said to be
the cause.
 It is meant to establish sufficient conditions
for a phenomenon through the elimination of
alternative potential causes on the basis of
previous experiments or already known laws.
 We identify what’s left as the cause of the
remaining effect, because other influences
have been accounted for.
QUESTIONS:
 What are the five scientific method of
inquiry by John Stuart Mill?
 What is method of agreement?
 What is method of difference?
 What is joint method of agreement and
difference
 What is method of concomitant
variations?
 What is method of residues?