Final answer:
The scientific method is a standardized process focusing on empirical evidence to draw conclusions, while the environmental decision-making model also considers broader factors like ethics, economics, and social issues, especially when informing policies. Both methods utilize inductive and deductive reasoning and intersect in applied science goals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scientific method and the environmental decision making model are systematic approaches used to address queries and problems within their respective fields. The scientific method consists of a series of standardized steps: making observations, forming a hypothesis, conducting an experiment to test the hypothesis, and then analyzing the results to draw a conclusion. This process is heavily rooted in empirical and measurable evidence obtained through careful observation and experimentation.
The environmental decision making model, while it also aims at tackling issues systematically, often incorporates a broader variety of factors beyond empirical evidence, such as ethical, economic, and social considerations, and it is frequently used to guide policies and strategies related to environmental management and sustainability.
Both models employ inductive reasoning (developing generalizations based on observation) and deductive reasoning (drawing specific conclusions from general principles), and they have goals that overlap in the area of applied science, which applies scientific knowledge to solve practical problems. However, while the scientific method is strictly empirical and often associated with basic science—the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake—the environmental decision making model tends to be more pragmatic and inter-disciplinary, aiming to inform policy and decision-making in real-world contexts.