The Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design Process
Comparing the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method
While scientists study how nature works, engineers create new things, such as products, websites, environments, and experiences. Because engineers and scientists have different objectives, they follow different processes in their work.
Scientists perform experiments using the scientific method; whereas, engineers follow the creativity-based engineering design process.
Both processes can be broken down into a series of steps, as seen in the table below.
- Scientific Method
- State your question
- Do background research
- Formulate your hypothesis, identify variables
- Design experiment, establish procedure
- Test your hypothesis by doing an experiment
- Analyze your results and draw conclusions
- Communicate results
- Steps of The Scientific Method
- Engineering Design Process
- Define the problem
- Do background research
- Specify requirements
- Create alternative solutions, choose the best one and develop it
- Build a prototype
- Test and redesign as necessary
- Communicate results
- Steps of The Engineering Design Process
Keep in mind that although the steps above are listed in sequential order, you will likely return to previous steps multiple times throughout a project. It is often necessary to revisit stages or steps in order to improve that aspect of a project.
You can see the steps of each process in full detail here:
Steps of The Scientific Method
Steps of The Engineering Design Process
Why are there two processes?
Both scientists and engineers contribute to the world of human knowledge, but in different ways. Scientists use the scientific method to make testable explanations and predictions about the world. A scientist asks a question and develops an experiment, or set of experiments, to answer that question. Engineers use the engineering design process to create solutions to problems. An engineer identifies a specific need: Who need(s) what because why? And then, he or she creates a solution that meets the need.
Which process should I follow for my project?
In real life, the distinction between science and engineering is not always clear. Scientists often do some engineering work, and engineers frequently apply scientific principles, including the scientific method. Much of what we often call "computer science" is actually engineering—programmers creating new products. Your project may fall in the gray area between science and engineering, and that's OK. Many projects, even if related to engineering, can and should use the scientific method.
However, if the objective of your project is to invent a new product, computer program, experience, or environment, then it makes sense to follow the engineering design process.
