The Scientific Method in Vaccine History

This selection of readings outlines the steps of the scientific method in the context of the history of vaccines. After describing different components of the scientific method, the readings provide numerous case studies documenting famous scientists and their discoveries. Each case study walks through a different part of the scientific method, and explains why scientists designed experiments in particular ways.

This resource is excellent for students practicing reading complex scientific texts and also is a way to introduce the scientific method to students. This selection of readings is part of a larger website documenting the history of vaccines. Included in this website is a timeline of vaccine history, a conversation about the ethics of vaccines, and common misconceptions about vaccines.