YV4- Cells - 4.6 scientific skills

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Scientific skills

Name some research skills

Preparation

Execution

Analysis

Formulating research question

Formulating hypothesis

Designing research plan

Repeats

Precision

Objectivity

Drawing graphs

Reading tables/diagrams

Drawing conclusion

Put the steps of the scientific method in the proper chronological order.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Hypothesis

Observation

Research question

Experimental setup

Conclusion en reflection

Experiment

Results

The chapters of a scientific report 

INTRODUCTION

background information/theory/observation, research question (?!) and well explained hypothesis

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Used materials, description of experimental setup, report on the experimental execution

RESULTS

processed data (graphs, tables), report of the observations/measurements

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION

results explained, statement of validity hypothesis, reflection on the entire process: are there factors that have influenced the outcome/data of your experiment? elaborate.

Preparation

• Research usually starts with a question: the research question
• Goal of the research is to answer the question
• What do all questions have?

They end with a question mark!

Hypothesis

Expected answer to the research question

Often seen formats:

-Cause and effect: If....., then...

- Correlation: ....has a positive effect on...

- Differences: comparing two or more groups

Research plan

Different types of research:

Describing : collect data by observing

Experimental : testing hypothesis with experiment

- Control group

Developing : develop material/model/method

Designing experimental research

1. Determine variable to be experimentally changed
2. Design multiple groups:
   - Vary the variable between the groups
   - Try to include control group (eliminate variable)
   - Keep all other variables constant
3. Explain what will be measured, when, and how

Analysis results

• Displaying results in tables and graphs
• Drawing conclusion from results
• Comparing conclusion with hypothesis and analyse differences: hypothesis accepted or rejected
• Conclusion = the answer to the research question

What are common mistakes with graphs?

How would you improve this graph?

Don't forget to use quantities and units, e.g. temperature in degree Celsius, time in hours, etc..