Applied Research Protocols Dr. Steve Prochaska Harold Watters

Applied Research Protocols - Outline Why?? Selection of a research question/hypothesis Review of related literature Funding/cost of research Feasibility of quality of research Precision of objectives as it relates to your research question. State specialist; Field specialist support

WHY As OSU employees are work is: RESEARCH TEACHING SERVICE “We disseminate research based (unbiased) information to help farmers increase yields, protect the environment and improve profitability.”

WHY Applied research that we conduct must be unencumbered by: Personal opinion Incorrect interpretation Unwarranted conclusion Lack of relevance, error etc The peer review process is how we evaluate our work to prevent all the above while maintaining credibility (it is continuous quality improvement).

WHY Publish findings (share findings) in order to answer clientele questions, grow agriculture, meet job requirements, and expand your career.

Applied Research Protocols - Begininng? What general question/problem should an extension agricultural educator conduct applied research on? What are needs of county/state clientele? What are the issues facing agriculture (DRP)? Why is this study important or will anybody care? Has the work been done before? What impact will it make on clientele, for you, OSUE? Are you able to conduct this research with precision? Example??

Applied Research Protocols - Literature Review the literature for studies related to your applied research study. Record the citation & summary of findings. For example: Are the results applicable to our area? How well was systemic error (internal error – quality of study) controlled? Are the results of this study relevant? For what reason are you repeating a study? Review your question and/or research objectives and make any changes.

Applied Research Protocols – Funding for or Cost of Study Have you developed a budget for the project? If you rely on donations – will these donations impact final outcome ? Is there a need to hire contractors to complete a part of or all of the study? Is the study funded by a grant/contract – how much time will be necessary to meet grant obligations- Suggest unencumbered gifts where possible.

Applied Research Protocols – Site/Cooperator Do you have an appropriate site and or cooperator. Why have you chosen this cooperator – Expertise/Experience/Skill Patience Site Equipment Attitude towards

Applied Research Protocols – What is Feasibility of a Quality of Research Outcome Will you able to measure treatment effect? Most field research is experimental, where the independent variable is manipulated (treatment) while observing the dependent variable and controlling all other variables (error). Control of other variables is a major issue with field research, even with statistical techniques such as randomization/replication. In general most educator trials should be simple as error may be better controlled with better results.

Applied Research Protocol - Factors? Appropriate design (RCB vs Completely randomized, split plot, etc), Would not recommend factorial design. Replicated (4 replications minimum to detect differences, statistical power), treatments randomized and study repeated over 3 years as a minimum. Plot uniformity (soil type, fertility, drainage, slope, etc) Plot control (all plots treated the same except for independent variable) Accurate and uniform measurement of dependent variable. Awareness of other possible causes to treatment effect.etc No vested interests. (Unbiased)

Applied Research (AR) Protocol Review? Control Extraneous variable threats  Every experiment has extraneous variables that if not controlled will make the trial devoid of any meaning – This is difficult in field research, but is a major point in designing a good experiment.  Example: Corn Nitrogen Rate –what might impact corn yield: soil drainage, slope, soil type, pH, P, K, tillage, Residue, Deer, weeds, insects, different day of planting, different combine, plot size, incorrect rate, weather. The list goes on.  Keep complete field notes. Repeat study.

AR Protocol Review? When formulating your objectives – Remember the 4 R’s are essential to well done applied agronomic plots: Replicate treatments Randomize treatments Repeat experiment over years (min 2 to 3) Request help

Applied Research Protocol – Precise Objectives Be brief and concise when writing objectives Use active verbs such as compare, compute, calculate, determine. Avoid vague verbs such as; study, understand, comprehend, evaluate, etc. Define dependent variable outcome; ie - yield of soybeans in bu/a,number of wheat tillers per square meter, wheat yield in bu/a in two tillage systems,etc Read your objectives to see if more than one meaning could be understood – if so re-write to clarify to one outcome.,

Applied Research Protocol :Research Question Example To measure corn yield in bu/a over 1 pint/acre rate of a XYZ soil conditioner compared to a control? Statistical hypothesis; There is no difference in mean values ie Null Hypothesis - HO: u1=u2

Objectives Annual Ryegrass (AR) Study: how not to write 1.To evaluate AR uptake of nitrogen from liquid swine manure (measure). 2.To evaluate AR growth (stand, plants per sq. foot) and winter survival. (Treatment) 3.To compare AR to Cereal Rye over objective one. (measure) 4.To evaluate nitrate nitrogen using the PSNT over the four treatments. 5.To evaluate corn yield over all treatments and the control.

Writing Research Objectives – State Specialist Support Review project idea with state specialist to obtain his/her opinion of the feasibility and/or worth of the study. Share with state specialist, question, hypothesis, objectives, treatments and research design at a minimum. Or as opposed to your own work, collaborate with state specialist on their applied research.

Applied Research Protocol Takes great skill, patience and in some cases money to conduct high quality research. A keystone to knowing if your findings are valid is the publishing of your results in referred journals or can other trained scientists replicate your findings.

Applied Research Protocol - Summary Formulate question/problem Conduct literature review Define variables of the study Calculate a budget for the study Measure your ability to conduct experiment (site adaptability, equipment, inputs, measurement, etc) Write precise research objectives Get aid/opinions from state/field specialist

Resources/Aid OSU Extension State Specialists/Field Specialist Agricultural Experimentation – Thomas Little and F. Jackson Hills (John Wiley and Sons). Many others Questions???

Agricultural experimentation – helping to feed the world