How the Scientific Method Works

Following the Philosopher Hume, Scientific Method involves the use of the cognitive faculties of: Experience, Underdanding, Judgment and Reflection. The old way of looking at this was to refer to science as: Experimental Data, Scientific Theory or Hypothesis, Theory or Hypothesis confirmation or Conclusion. We can contrast the two approaches with the chart below:
3. Verified Hypothesis Judgment and Reflection
2. Theory or Hypothesis Understanding
1. Experimental Data Experience

Now, the way that real science is done is that the scientist starts at level 2 with Understanding, and uses intuitive analysis to look at the world around him or her, with curiousity, and come up with a theory to explain how it is that things are the way they are, or how it is that certain things work the way they do. This involves asking the questions, Who? What? How? When? Where? Then, the scientists generates a theory and uses the theory and creative artistry to set up an experiment, using Understanding, and then run the experiment and use Experience to monitor the experiment and collect the data. Then, once the data is collected, the scientist then goes back to level 2 and Understanding, and then classifies and categorizes the data, and, compares and contrasts the data, reasserting the previous theory or hypothesis, or, changes or developes another theory which is more explanatory to explain how it is that certain things or processes are going on. Once this is done, the scientist then goes to level 3, and confirms the hypothesis or theory using an intuitive judgment or fact or reflection. Thus, we can see how the scientific method really works is the chart below:

4. The theory and hypothesis are confirmed with intuitive Judgment
and Reflection
3. Understanding the Data is categorized, and compared and contrasted
in the context of the theory or hypothesis
2. Experimental Data produced and observed with Experience
1. Understanding and Creativity and Theory or Hypothesis generation