The uncovered evidence usually leads the scientist to look completely at various issues. Nevertheless, scientific inquiry typically includes observing, asking questions, developing a hypothesis, collecting data, testing the hypothesis, and then the research her shares what he or she has learned in the research process. Therefore, the five scientific research inquiry methods include experimentation, question, hypothesis, data analysis, and conclusion. These scientific methods are essential to scientific research as they help in obtaining credible data and conclusions in the research.
Question
When conducting a study, the research begins by defining the problem by asking a question. The set question is termed as the research question. This question is expected to be answered after the research. The researcher will work to answer the research question. The question is set using the four “Ws” and an H: how, when, why, what, and who. The best start is developing questions using the Ws and the H, which will help develop a hypothesis for the study. The first question is normally broad. The research question is essential since the research team will be working to answer the question. The research question is a constant process of observing and collecting data, developing and testing the hypothesis, forecasting, and noting the real world’s patterns. For example, a research question could be: how well is the law enforcement equipped to handle terrorism post 9/11? Why has the airline safety improved since the attacks of 9/11?
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a clear, strong statement of what the research forecast will be the result of the survey. Research contains the test and null hypothesis. For the statement to be a hypothesis, it must be testable- it also has to be realistic and falsifiable. It can also be the description of why the researcher is asking a question and why the guess may turn out to be true. Therefore, it must then be a statement that observations and experiments can support for it to be a scientific hypothesis. Hypothesis testing is different according to the type of study and the method used to test. It is used to test the correlation between two variables when taking a real experiment. The developed hypothesis can be poor, especially when it can’t be tested. For instance, the statement “inmates who have signs of flu may not be present on work details” is a poor research hypothesis. This is because the statement is not testable. To answer the research question: how well is the law enforcement equipped to handle terrorism post 9/11?, the hypothesis would be: the law enforcement is not better equipped to handle terrorism post 9/11. The researcher would then try to show otherwise. The null hypothesis or the test hypothesis will then be accepted or rejected. To accept or reject either a null or test hypothesis, there are certain criteria to be met. For this hypothesis to be accepted or rejected, the research would need some testing to make sure it is not false- it is better equipped. The hypothesis might be the answer to the research question or an explanation of why the prediction is precise.
Experimentation
Experimentation involves an evaluation to prove and get a result- verifying the hypothesis. This is where the hypothesis is tested during a study. The researcher manipulates a variable- independent variable- influencing the experimental group. The experiment is aimed at measuring the independent variable of interest. After developing a hypothesis, the research must, therefore, have a variable to be tested. The experiment measures the independent variable to see whether the hypothesis is true or not and whether to be rejected or accepted. This shows how the independent variables influenced the dependent variables. The study also involves a control group, which helps the researcher know what happens where there is no change.
Data Analysis
This is the process of systematically using logical or statistical methods to systematically explain and illustrate, assess, recap, and condense collected data to discover effective information to inform the conclusion of the research. The collected data is normally prepared in graphs or tables. Data analysis assists in demonstrating the gathered data in the experiment. There are various methods of data analysis. The main data analysis methods include the qualitative analysis, which answers the question “how, what or why,” and quantitative analysis, which is measured through numbers. Other methods like statistical analysis involve the performance of various statistical operations to quantify data and use statistical analysis. Statistical data analysis uses different tools to carry out statistical operations like Stat soft, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Statistical Analysis System (SAS), among others. Data analysis may place the analyzed data on a graph or a chart for interpretation and to guide the conclusion. It is possible to test the hypothesis with data analysis when the research has enough data.
Conclusion
A conclusion involves the outcome of the experimentation and analysis of the collected data in a survey. The conclusion entails the process of data collection and experimentation and the collected data related to the hypothesis. The conclusion shows whether the experiment proved the hypothesis or it didn’t prove. The researcher uses the conclusion to summarize the experiment results.
The two inquiry methods I would utilize on my hypothesis to conclude are research questions and data analysis. It would be better to set research questions to define the problem of how better the law enforcement is equipped, what equipment is used, how they are used, whether they are enough, and then collect data. I would collect data on the equipment available to the law enforcer, how they use them, and whether they have been effective. The questions would be answered after data analysis to reject or accept the hypothesis.