KEVIN LEE
CLASS
Fictional detective Sherlock Holmes solved crimes employing a proven technique scientists use to make important discoveries. The scientific method also helps real-life investigators and law enforcement personnel solve crimes by following methodological steps that increase objectivity and reduce errors during a criminal investigation.
Explore this article
- First Steps: Observation and Data Collection
- Create Your Hypothesis
- Test the Hypothesis
- Interpret Results and Form Conclusion
- Crime Investigation Tips
1 First Steps: Observation and Data Collection
As a criminal investigator, you should begin by making observations. At a robbery scene, you may notice a lipstick tube lying partially hidden in a corner. That could be a clue that leads you to make further observations and look for additional evidence — data collection is step 2 in the process.
2 Create Your Hypothesis
In hypothesis formulation — the next step in the scientific process — you make an educated guess about the crime based on data you’ve gathered. The more observations you made and data you collected in the first two steps, the better your hypothesis will be. Form a hypothesis you can test using deductive reasoning — for example, “The theft occurred at night and the thief was a smoker who wore sneakers.” You could use deductive reasoning to test the hypothesis if you had tangible evidence that supported those theories. Deductive reasoning, often used by Sherlock Holmes, is a thought process wherein you reach a conclusion based on information you already have. Your hypothesis should also list your evidence along with items detailing possible criminal motives and personality characteristics of the offender.
