Ecology/Scientific Method Glossary

Introduction to the Scientific Method

In Ecology, as with many sciences a series of steps known as the scientific method are involved in trying to support or nullify a hypothesis.

There are two ways to support your hypothesis. The first way is by a weak inference, which is basically using one distinct hypothesis and trying to support that hypothesis through observation. The other way is by using strong inference. This method is regarded as having more credibility as it uses numerous hypotheses with a null hypothesis for each. Instead of trying to support one hypothesis as with a weak inference, the researcher tries to disprove numerous hypotheses through controlled experimentation to support a single hypothesis.