Final answer:
Sherlock Holmes's investigative methods are known for their emphasis on deductive reasoning and attention to detail, contrasting with the sometimes rigid and less effective methods used by the conventional police in Arthur Conan Doyle's stories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sherlock Holmes's investigative methods are best described as meticulous and based upon strong deductive reasoning. Despite being a fictional character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes became known for his remarkable ability to spot the smallest clues and combine seemingly unrelated pieces of evidence to solve complex mysteries.
His approach contrasts sharply with the methods employed by the police in Doyle's stories, such as Inspector Lestrade, who often missed subtle details and stuck to more conventional investigative techniques.
Deductive reasoning, a method Holmes used frequently, involves forming a hypothesis based on existing information and then seeking evidence to support or refute it.
Moreover, Holmes' success lies in his ability to consider a wide array of possibilities, unlike the conventional police method, which might be trapped in their own logic and preconceived notions of cleverness, ignoring the diversity of a criminal's intellect.
Holmes' methods demonstrate that a single set of principles does not necessarily ensure success in every situation, highlighting that flexibility and a thorough understanding of human nature can be more effective than routine protocol.