Data and numbers are only crutches, on which most of us depend on way too much in determining their next steps. We tend to refuse exploring new options of variations unless data points us to them. But the naïve imperative hidden object discoverer has no data or information to infer that changing temperature would expose a feature for distinction, but shining light, radiating, sonar sounding, fanning and looking would not. The new feature hunter must simply use trial and error. He must follow his intuition because directing data is lacking. It would not help him to perfectionate the resolution of his measuring techniques as long as he has not changed the environmental conditions such that objects differ in at least one feature from one another and/or their surrounding environment. In such cases heuristic search options are lacking. There is no method that tells how and what to vary in order to expose new features for novel distinctions between former hidden objects.
So! Data and numbers are just tools. It is a reflection on the 'poor' judgement of the scientist if they are improperly used. As an example;
there may be a positive correlation in the dose of a molecule and the mitigation of a medical condition but that relationship could be linear, logarithmic, exponential...
Of course Data of any type are tools. If one is doing new research, one is not guaranteed of success but even failure is noteworthy. Doing reckless research (innovation without thought) is foolhardy. But, if attempting innovation with some sound reasoning behind it, then this is Science. MY HUMBLE OPINION.
Knowing a method and using it on data does not replace thinking. It is always about interpreting the results. One should put them into the context and understand are the results meaningful. Often even the statistically significant results are not meaningful but the process finding it out gives you fresh thoughts what else to try. So blind analysis can really be like crutches to the cripple and right conclusions like wings to fly :)
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