The Scientific Method establishes a single hypothesis for the situation. The Problem-Solving Process, however, avoids any initial hypothesis. The final result is one of many possible solutions to the problem. Be specific and detailed. Be careful of word selection.
General terms allow the imagination the widest field of view.
Specific verbs can prejudiced thinking and eliminate better solutions. If you are asked to get people from one side of a river to the other, you could define the problem as building a bridge or you could define the problem as moving people , which brings in more possible solutions as boats, a tunnel, helicopters, travel upstream and ford at a shallow place, etc. Identify restrictions which limit the possible solutions. Other special conditions. There are many sources of available information.