When the observed phenomenon occurs in the controlled environment of the laboratory, that is, when it is replicated experimentally.Ī perfect example of scientific observation is the trip of the English scientist Charles Darwin to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador.ĭarwin already had theories about the origin of species (which he later published in a book of the same title) and which he had accumulated throughout his other travels and observations. When the scientist is in nature itself or his instruments allow him to observe the phenomenon directly in his place in it. The observation can also be classified according to its place of realization, in: See also Citizen Participation - Concept, mechanisms and examples It also applies to observations that are based on previous data collected by other scientists. That in which the phenomenon pursued is not observable, but its presence can be deduced from parallel observations or other phenomena.
On the other hand, it is necessary to know what exactly is (or what is presumed to be) what is observed. This limitation of interests is essential to choose between which data to record and which not. Scientific observation requires a very specific delimitation of what is observed, that is to say, that it is understood what exactly is going to be observed of a phenomenon of nature. Characteristics of scientific observation
Hence, the observation is fundamental in the systematic and orderly approach proposed by the scientific method, so that the results are as reliable as possible. This means that by observing nature and drawing conclusions from these observations, we have been able to deduce and then experimentally verify many of the laws that govern the Universe.
See also Lotus Flower - Information, Biology, Symbology and Buddhism Scientific observation has yielded the largest amount of data throughout history of those that make up our world encyclopedia. Importance of scientific observation Scientific observation made it possible to verify many of the laws that govern the Universe. Often these information gathering processes are supported by tools such as surveys, specific instruments (microscopes, stethoscopes, telescopes, etc.) or parallel processes (when the phenomenon cannot be observed directly), depending on the nature of the observed object and the the scientific perspective itself. Often the contemplation of what happens in concrete experiments is also considered a method of observation. However, today it is known that there is a paradox in this regard, since the presence of an observer in many cases modifies what is observed.Īnyway, scientific observation deal with natural phenomena taking into account as much context as possible, seeking an exhaustive understanding of the conditions that influence the phenomenon that, in general, will be later replicated in a laboratory (experimentation) or controlled environment. Scientific observation aspires to contemplate and understand nature in its purest state, that is, without interference from man, as the naturalists of the nineteenth century tried.
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