1. Asking Scientific Questions
IRSL Fall 2017

2. Scientific Method, revisited
Where in the process of the scientific method does asking a question play a role?

4. Key Questions for Research Design
Topic: WHAT is the research topic and HOW research topic will be addressed in this study?
Methods: WHICH methodology? WHEN and WHERE will the topic be studied? (WHAT is the subject?) HOW will the data be collected?
Analysis: HOW will the data be processed and interpreted?
Reporting: HOW will findings be communicated to the community?
Circle rather than top down Where do scientific questions come up in the research process?

5. What are the goals of a scientific question?
Describe
Predict
Increase understanding
Mechanisms
Answer “why?”
Cause and effect relationship
Scientific research starts with a scientific question.

6. What are the characteristics of a good scientific question?
Is testable
An experiment can be designed to find the answer
Has a hypothesis that is falsifiable
Is not biased
Consider many alternative explanations/ hypotheses
Has a real answer
Is not too broad or vague

7. Weak Questions Too broad
Too narrowly focused on collecting a fact (specific amount of chemical in methods)
Vague comparisons
Why?
Examples –Check out Tips handout

8. Thought Processes (to form strong questions)
Analogy: compare similar situations
Induction: infer general from particular instance:
P  G (small idea to big idea)
Process:
Data collection  analysis  theory
“Few guidelines to tell…which measurements to make and how to make them”
Especially important in early stages of a field, developing hypotheses and theories
I have a bag of change in my purse. I pull out a quarter and then two more quarters. All the coins in my purse are quarters.
Lee, Pg

9. Thought Processes (to form strong questions)
Analogy: compare similar situations
Induction: infer general from particular
Deduction: infer particular from general
G  P
Process:
theory  prediction  data collection
“Less likely to lead scientists astray”
Important for applying theories
All Greeks are men, all men are mortal; therefore, all Greeks will die.
All elephants are mammals, Bessie is an elephant; Bessie is a mammal.
Lee, Pg

10. Thought Processes (to form strong questions)
Analogy: compare similar situations
Induction: infer general from particular
Deduction: infer particular from general
Intuition: helpful for forming questions (dangerous for analysis!)
Little concrete information
Lee, Pg

11. Thought Processes (to form strong questions)
Analogy: compare similar situations
Induction: infer general from particular
Deduction: infer particular from general
Intuition: helpful for forming questions (but not for analysis)
Serendipity: unexpected observation
Penicillin
Lee, Pg

12. What is the purpose of your question?
1) Define or measure a specific fact or gather facts about a specific phenomenon
2) Match facts and theory
3) Evaluate and compare two theories, models, or hypotheses
4) Prove that a certain method is more effective than other methods

13. Questions when Designing an Experiment
Choose an answerable question
Choose type and amount of data
Choose data analysis

14. Experimental Design Include controls
Understand variation between experimental conditions
Be aware of bias
Anticipate types of error

15. What to look for in an article
Hypothesis or clear goal
Controls
Careful unbiased observations
Accurate documentation
Systematic analysis
Analyze variability and certainty
Did the scientists ask the right questions?

16. Scientific Question Activity: Intersex Fish
Video clip
Mark Fritts

17. Scientific Question Activity
Write down as many questions you can about anything related to the video or intersex fish research.
Review your questions. Cross out any that are considered “weak” scientific questions OR re-word to improve.
Categorize your remaining questions- which part of the Scientific Method do they belong?
Choose three testable questions.
Share with your group.
Weak question
Good scientific question
Share with the class.

18. Homework for next Monday
Start brainstorming ideas for a research topic
Come to class with Preliminary topic form filled out and PRINTED (have 1 topic in form, and some extra topic ideas just in case)
Preliminary topic form will be due at the end of breakout session next week (Monday or Friday)
Preliminary topic form found on my website and Dr. Guzman’s