If you’ve listened in class back in grade school when the scientific method was taught, pat yourself on the back!
Having a scientific mindset may just give you an edge in trading.
Scientific method: The basics
Scientists always start with observation.
Simply put, it is the process of using the senses to gather data about consistencies in the environment. This is where we take note of patterns, repeat occurrences, or random incidents.
Once a scientist has gathered enough data, theory-formulation would follow.
Humans are curious beings so we often try to make sense of what’s going on around us. We attempt to explain our observations by making assumptions or hypotheses.
But of course, a hypothesis won’t mean anything until it is tested out. If empirical tests support our hypotheses, one could say that they become theories that are used to generate future observations.
The beauty of the scientific method is that it can teach us how to be humble. How, you ask?
By always being open to new and fresh observations, scientists acknowledge the fact that their theories are not absolute truths.
For them, having an open mind allows them to embrace the fact that human understanding will always fall short of nature’s complexities and makes them stay on their toes for new evidence that could challenge pre-existing theories.
For traders, this kind of open-mindedness could be an antidote to overconfidence and overtrading, allowing us to realize that it’s okay not to be right all the time.
So how exactly can you trade like a scientist? Here are some steps that you can follow:
1. Observe the markets carefully and look for patterns.
As a trader, you should already have a basic understanding of the technical and fundamental factors that usually move the markets.
You probably have an idea of how a particular economic event, such as an interest rate decision or a GDP release, could affect price action or how certain candlestick patterns signal that a reversal could be in the cards.
To gain an even better edge, you can add to your database of market factors by making careful observations and noting down recurring patterns.
For instance, you recently observed that CPI releases tend to carry more weight these days, as forex traders would like to see how the oil price slump is affecting consumer price levels. You can mark these events on your calendar to see how the market usually reacts.
2. Use these observations to create a hypothesis for price action.
Let’s say you’ve noticed that investors get hungry for more risk whenever a central bank talks about adding monetary stimulus.
What you can do is note what actually happened, how currency pairs reacted, and which forex trade setups could’ve enabled you to catch a part of that move.
You can keep listing down these observations in your trade journal until you are confident that your hypothesis is ready to be tested.
Keep in mind that it would also be helpful to come up with a play-by-play commentary on price action, which could include the price action prior to the event, the initial reaction, and the main direction that the pair takes afterward.
3. Put this hypothesis to the test by taking trades when similar patterns occur.
Once you have enough data supporting a particular pattern that you’ve observed, the next step would be to put this theory to the test by taking trades when the opportunity presents itself.
Following my previous example about central bank easing and risk appetite, you can hunt for potential trades prior to monetary policy announcement when the policymakers are widely expected to sound more dovish.
Of course, deliberate practice would be very helpful in this aspect. As you take trades based on those patterns, you should also list down your new observations and whether you should make any adjustments to your hypothesis.
4. Keep an open mind.
Remember that the markets are fickle and that your hypotheses are not absolute truths.
As you’ve also probably observed during your trading experience, the market environment is very dynamic and sentiment can always shift on a dime.
With that, you should always be open for potential adjustments or completely new market patterns. Just like a good scientist, a good trader should remain open to new data.
Changes in the overall themes dominating the markets, for example, typically impact some currency pairs’ reactions to certain reports. There are even times when a currency pair doesn’t react to a high-impact report at all because there are bigger factors in play!
Keeping an open mind can also enable you to extend your hypothesis to accommodate other factors that could affect price action. Think about it as constantly fine-tuning your theories and trading plans.
By taking trading plans that are based on your observations and hypotheses, you can build confidence in taking those setups. This could also help you in risk management by knowing when to risk big or when to play it safe.
Also, by keeping a scientist’s mindset when trading, you’ll be able to treat each trade as a source of new information that could either enhance or disprove your theories.
With that, you’ll be able to gain something even from losing trades as you use them, along with your winning ones, to develop a better understanding of the markets.
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