The scientific method is very important when it comes to collecting evidence? What is the scientific method? The scientific method is “principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). This is popularly used in the forensic science field, especially for forensic serology.
Forensic serologists examine different types of evidence that involve bodily fluids that could potentially contain DNA (New Jersey State Police, n.d.). A type of evidence would be blood for example. The forensic serologist would apply the scientific method in examining evidence, which would include deductive or inductive reasoning would be used. What is the difference? Deductive reasoning is like rational thinking of a way a crime has been committed. For example, the criminalist would develop a hypothesis and examine all reasonable explanations before making a conclusion (Gitau, 2021). Inductive reasoning is more of a generalized thinking based on the evidence at hand. For this reasoning, the criminalist would observe, develop a pattern, and generalize a theory (Gitau, 2021).
An example of a forensic serologist using the scientific method, would be to examine blood. Depending on the situation of the evidence, would determine what reasoning would be the best to use. Generally, the examiner would observe the crime scene, collect the evidence, develop a hypothesis, and test the evidence. This will continually happen until a conclusion is made. I would say the biggest challenge would be using inductive reasoning over deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning gives a more accurate conclusion, but inductive reasoning could be the better option in some cases that include crime scene manipulation, cross contamination or investigating a cold case.