Types of Observation in the Scientific Method

1. Staged Observation his observation would be characterized as staged. Many experiments begin with a scientist thinking “what if” -- e.g., “What if I drop this apple from a balcony? What will happen?” In this form of observation the scientist creates a hypothetical theory from thinking about something in nature, intervening in nature and observing the event.

2. The scientific method consists of a series of steps used by scientists to conduct experiments

3. Observed Naturally When a scientist sets out to prove something using the scientific method, he must first observe something in the natural world.

4. Quantitative Observation In the scientific method, once the experiment is underway, it must be observed. One form of data collection during the method is quantitative. This form of observation during an experiment employs mathematical models and relies on the scientist to collect information based on numbers. Quantitative observation is common in physics, biology and the natural sciences.

5. The "observation" has two meanings in the scientific method. This is the first step of the scientific method and can be presented in two ways, either as a natural observation or a staged one. Second, in the collection of data in an experiment using the scientific method, there are two types of observations, qualitative and quantitative.