I would argue I actually am a scientist, and philosopher, and scholar. That said, to paraphrase Socrates:
"All I know is that I do not know"
The first step in becoming any of these things is understanding your own current limitations.
The second is remember Science is the consistent process of attempting to DISPROVE your own hypotheses.
Those two things meditations, and the quote help to keep one humble in the pursuit of such things.
You're 100% dead on with the trial and error, and recording your observations and results, and keeping records of your trials, attempts, errors, failures, and successes.
I JUST did a call with my business students on using the Scientific Method actually. So I'm feeling fresh on this ish.
I will say, it is absolutely wild how little that the majority of westerners even know or remember about the method that is the single most important revelation, and responsible for the entire ascension and evolution of the west itself.