What Is the Scientific Method, and How Is the Theory Applied to Fingerprint Analysis?

What is the scientific method ,and how is the theory applied to fingerprint analysis?
The complete friction ridge identification process involves using the "identification philosophy and scientific methodology" in determining whether or not an "unknown friction ridge impression"(herein, called latent) came from the same source as a "known inked print (herein called print)to the exclusion of all others.
(1) David Ashbaugh refers to this identification process as, "a guide of how friction ridge quantative-qualititive analysis is transformed into an opinion of individuality.…