This document discusses the scientific method and research. It begins by outlining the philosophy and principles of the scientific method, including empiricism, determinism, and skepticism. It then provides examples of how the scientific method was applied in 1980 to study Kaposi Sarcoma in young patients, which led to the theory and hypothesis that AIDS is caused by HIV. The document questions whether there are non-scientific methods, discussing authority, reasoning, and intuition. It also briefly mentions the Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis and his work regarding puerperal fever in 1849. Finally, it states that research can be qualitative or quantitative.