Strictly speaking, I don't think most of what goes on with the study of evolution involves the scientific method. That's because the scientific method is basically this:when I discuss why I think it's so important to talk to fundamentalists about Evolution...
and the Scientific Method
Ask a Question
Do Background Research
Construct a Hypothesis
Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
Communicate Your Results
Underline added for emphasis.
That particular language was copied from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-f ... thod.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but you can find it in other places.
The point is this: The scientific method includes the step of controlled experimentation. If you say something causes something else, at some point you have a controlled experiment to support that hypothesis.
And the study of evolution is almost entirely observational study. The theory is not, for the most part, supported by controlled experiments that demonstrate that the evolutionary process causes what they say it causes.
As I've said many times I do believe the theory of evolution is essentially correct. But I do think people overstate the certainty associated with it because of that thing in the scientific method about experiments.
I know it's inconvenient. I know there are some areas of study such that ever really supporting them by controlled experimentation is not really possible. But that doesn't change what the scientific method actually is.
