Delinquency Theories and the Scientific Method Each of the theories presented in this course is based on the scientific method. The scientific method is a means of acquiring new knowledge by which phenomena are systematically observed, measured, and experimented on and on which hypotheses are offered, tested, and modified. The scientific method has long been used to study the natural, or hard, sciences. More recently, though, the scientific method has been applied to the social, or soft, sciences in order to explain human behavior. Submission Details: In minimum of 250 words, post to the Discussion Area your responses to the following: Do you believe that approaches to preventing and controlling juvenile delinquency should be grounded in the scientific method? If so, why? If not the scientific method, then what other philosophy or process would you recommend in guiding approaches to preventing and controlling juvenile delinquency? How effective do you think the other approaches might be?