1. Douglas D. Piirto September 25, 2014
Masters Graduate Program Scientific Method, Literature Reviews, Critical Review
Douglas D. Piirto
September 25, 2014

2. Definition of Scientific Method
Oxford Dictionary defines scientific method as:
”A method or procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing and modifications of hypotheses.”

3. Attributes of Modern Scientific Method
A method of:
acquiring new knowledge,
investigating phenomena,
or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.
Based on empirical and measurable evidence.
Systematic observation
Replicated and Repeatable
Focused
Hypothesis driven
Based on what is known and what is not known
External review
Communicated
Archived

4. History
Dates back to 7th century BCE when Daniel, a Jewish captive of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar conducted a scientific experiment focused on a hypothesis with a control group, treatment group, and conclusions.
Many prominent people have helped us developed the scientific method including such names as: Aristotle (4th century BCE), Plato, Euclid, Ptolemy (2nd century CE) and many others.
Modern scientific method based on more recent scientists such as: Roger Bacon (13th centruy CE), Francis Bacon (17th century CE), Liindberg (21st century), and many others…

5. Terms
Hypothesis—Educated guess about relatonship between independent and dependent variables
Independent variable is the manipulated variable e.g., varying the amounts of nitrogen to determine the effect on plant growth
Dependent variable (e.g., plant growth) is the variable that is affected by varying amounts of nirogen fertilization
Effect is a noun e.g., the effect of nitrogen fertilization on plant growth
Affect is a verb e.g., How doe nitrogen affect plant growth and survival
Model
Theory
Control Group

6. Steps of Scientific Method
Ask a focused question with critical thinking skills
Do background research (i.e., literature review)
Construct a hypothesis statement
Test hypothesis by doing a controlled experiment
Analyze data
Draw conclusions
Communicate your results.

7. What Is a Literature Review
Machi and McEvoy (2009) define a Literature Review as:
”…a written document that presents a logically argued case founded on a comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge about a topic of study. This case establishes a convincing thesis to answer the study’s question.”
It is a written agrument that promotes a thesis position by building a case from credible evidence based on previous research.
It lays out a logical case to defend the thesis position taken…
Basic literature review looks at what we know
Advanced literature review is focused on identifying a research problem based on original research…

8. Steps of the Literature Review Process
Machi and McEvoy (2009) list the following steps for a Literature Review Process:
Select a topic
Search the literature
Develop the argument
Survey the literature
Critique the literature
Write the review

9. Conducting a Critical Review of a Scientific Paper
Refer to handout
Journal Requirements and blind peer reviews
Literature review contains important papers published on the topic. Clearly expanation of what is known in relation to what is not known. This then leads to the objectives and hypothesis of the study
Purpose/objectives of the paper clearly stated
Hypothesis clearly stated
Methodology fits the hypothesis and is focused on the objectives of the paper
Data is properly colledcted and analyzed
Tables and Figures are properly presented
Discussion relates to the results obtained and to the published literature
Summary and Conclusion is concised written
And much more

10. When Doing Critical Reviews
Be tactful
Don’t be sarcastic
State the strengths of the paper
State the areas that could be improved
Show tolerance and courtesy to the author(s)
Remember the author knows the paper better than you do
Help the author…the author could be you someday…

11. Piirto Assignment No. 2
Identify a focused question related to what you want your Masters study to focus on
Initiate your Literature Review
Utillize library resources in your quest to locate information
Start by finding 5 to 10+ peer reviewed papers related to the topic
Make a list of those papers
Select one of the 10 articles you list and conduct a critical review of that paper. Develop a short report.

12. References:
Goldhaber, A. S., Nieto M. M Photon and graviton mass limits. Rev. Mod. Phys. (American Physical Society) 82:939, doi: /RevModPhys pages
Lindberg The beginnings of western science. Univ. Of Chicago Press. 2nd edition.
Machi L. A. and B. T. McEvoy The Literature Review. Corwin Press pages.
Newton, I. (1687, 1713, 1726). Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, University of California Press, ISBN third Edition. From I. Bernard Cohen and Anne Whitman’s 1999 Translation pages.
Oxford Dictionary

13. Sisu