Does the field of cryptozoology follow the scientific method? Yes, it does! Heres why! The below is the scientific method process compared to the process of cryptozoology. The cryptid we will use in this illustration will the famous Bigfoot. 1). Ask a Question ----Cryptozoologists, first of all, have to ask several questions like Where is bigfoot located at, What is bigfoot?, or even in some cases, Does bigfoot actually exist?. For the sake of time, we will keep to the question:What is bigfoot? (Is bigfoot a known creature, an extinct creature, or something new?) 2). Do Background Research -----First of all, you do background research into what creatures that the bigfoot might actually be. Many people assert that the sasquatch (another name for bigfoot) may be an extinct primate called the Gigantopithicus. For this demonstration, we will use this as our research. We also find in our research that the gigantopithicus only lived in Asia, though. We have to show that the gigantopithicus moved into North America. 3). Construct a hypothesis -----We will use this hypothesis: the gigantopithicus somehow managed to cross the Bering Strait and established a habitat in North America. It slowly adapted to its environment and became now what we call the Sasquatch or Bigfoot. 4). Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment -----First, we have to test that the gigantopithicus actually crossed the Bering Strait and actually lived in America. We have no fossils to prove this hyptothesis. We do know, however, that the gigantopithicus existed near the Bering Strait at one time and it could have bee quite possible for the beast to cross the Strait and enter America. We also know that monkeys have defiantly made this journey (since there are monkeys in South America). 5). Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion -----Analyzing the little of information we have (like an alleged DNA sample from the sasquatch), we can therefore detect that the bigfoot is an ape and presumably matches the description of gigantopithicus. Therefore, the bigfoot is probably this Great Ape. 6). Communicate Your Results -----This step, although sounding easy, may be the hardest of all. One could easily deduce the theory that I stated; but will he have the guts to spread the word that bigfoot actually exists?
Posted on: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:47:24 +0000