scientific method

method of performing scientific research

Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. It is based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning, the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Noun
1. a method of investigation involving observation and theory to test scientific hypotheses
(hypernym) methodology
(hyponym) experimental method

to be truly a science the following steps should be followed; problem identifcation, observation, collection and classification, analysis, hypothesis, experimentation, report and repeat (turn the 'c'and the 'a' around and you have the acronym 'poacher').