There is nothing mysterious or even particularly unusual about the things that scientists do. There are many ways to work on scientific problems. They all require common sense.
Good scientists use highly-critical standards in the judging of evidence.
Tolerance of uncertainty. This often involves finding facts that, for a time, fail to fit into any coherent pattern and that even may support mutually contradictory explanations. Sometimes, as one listens to scientists vigorously defending their views, their confidence seems absolute. But deep in their hearts, they know that their views are based on probabilities and that a new piece of evidence may turn up at any time and force a major shift in their views. Although they certainly have no monopoly on hard work, their willingness to work long hours and years pursuing a problem is the mark of all good scientists.