FUBM: its usefulness varies depending on which brach fo science you are tlaking about
And this illustrates why I said earlier, there is no such thing as "The Scientific Method." How scientists DO science depends on many things, the branch of science in which are engaged, the tools they have at their disposal, the way the evidence/data can be gathered or naturally presents itself.
The real world is a messy place.
As Nancy Cartwright, a philosopher of physics, is known for her work: Howthe Laws of Physics Lie. The laws of physics (as they are presented in most textbooks) only apply in highly idealized circumstances.
FUBM: Scientists can become wedded to the thinking within the paradigm and may suffer from cognitive dissonance from experimental results that don't fit with the dominant paradigm and will often discount them.
Yes, good point. Scientists are people too and as a result are subject to all of the same foibles as everyone that is not trained in this way of thinking. Nevertheless, on of the goals of adopting a scientific way of thinking is to try to be aware of our own biases and overcome them. Peer-review is a great tool in this regard.