[timnic]

When I was in school "scientific method" wasn’t teached as a separate topic, but more like the result of "osmosis": you are given many examples of how science works and you somehow learn by this the process of science itself. Ok, you are taught how do do proofs in maths and how to do experiments, but no direct reference to a concept like the scientific method.

[metaxy2]

In the US we do teach about the scientific method as an abstract idea, especially in grade school and high school, but working scientists mostly learn by osmosis here as well. I'd say it serves a role similar to the way finance guys use math models, or musicians use advanced music theory: an idealized description of the way things are done on the ground that you study in school, but rarely use day to day.