What we call scientific research is a part of life

Exploratory research is conducted to clarify ambiguous problems. It is a research design used primarily to resolve general problems that are known but not sufficiently understood, and to obtain more information. New ideas and hypotheses are developed. In the exploratory approach, it is decided whether research can be conducted on the subject of interest. New data discovery and measurement techniques are developed. In fact, we all encounter various problems in our daily lives and try various ways to solve them. 

The most important way to solve a problem is to be able to make systematic observations and compare their results, just as Aristotle did while classifying plants growing in nature near Behramkale—which is the first known classification example in history—as Galileo did while discovering the phases of Venus and the four largest moons of Jupiter, and as Einstein did while researching the motion of light. 

I would like to give a very simple, fun, and typical example of this scientific research effort:

In 1983, the Porsche company entered the market with a car featuring technical equipment that would make waves in the automotive industry. The management, which was open to all kinds of comments and ideas from its customers, encountered an interesting complaint letter 2 months after the vehicle was launched.

The customer's complaint is as follows:

“My name is Danny Troatman. I live in New Jersey. Every evening before watching a movie, my wife, my children, and I go to the market in the city center to buy ice cream. Of course, with the Porsche brand car I bought a month ago... But interestingly, whenever I buy chocolate or fruit ice cream and return to my car, the vehicle does not start. However, when I buy vanilla, my car starts easily. I have tried this several times and got the same result every time. Thanks in advance for your help.”

The next day, the engineer arrives in New Jersey and immediately contacts Mr. Troatman. Starting that same evening, our engineer and Mr. Troatman go to the market to buy ice cream every evening. Indeed, when chocolate or fruit ice cream is bought, the car does not start, but when he buys vanilla, it starts easily. The engineer is initially surprised by this situation but strives not to stray from scientific rigor. About a month passes. The engineer, who goes to the market every day with Mr. Troatman, finally solves the case. The cooling system used in the new model Porsche cars activates immediately after the vehicle is stopped and locks the engine until it cools down to a certain temperature.

The best-selling ice cream at the market is vanilla. Therefore, there is always a queue in front of the vanilla ice cream counter. The time it takes for Mr. Troatman to get in line and buy his ice cream is enough for the engine to cool down. However, since there is no queue in front of the chocolate or fruit ice cream counter, he buys the ice cream immediately and returns to his vehicle. Since the engine is locked, the vehicle does not start. The engineer submits his report to the management. The vehicles on the market are recalled, the necessary adjustments are made, and they are delivered to the customers in their new state.

We can express the moral to be drawn from this example as follows: Sometimes we may encounter problems in life that have nothing to do with the actual problem. The important thing is not to find the apparent problem, but to find and solve the real problem.