Learning how to do research - The scientific method

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Learning how to do research - The scientific method

SCIENTIFIC 

RESEARCH

Objective, 

the scientific method is used.  

Research always starts with:

AN OBSERVATION!!

I have 2 plants (Monstera deliciosa)

same species, same store

1 plant is growing better then the other

RESEARCH QUESTION

Goal of the research is to answer the research question

• What do all questions have?
• open question is better: Why? How? What?
• yes: What is the effect of age on baldness?
• not: Is it better to make make summaries?

What question would you ask yourself?

They end with a question mark!

HYPOTHESIS

What do you think???

HYPOTHESIS = your expected answer to the research question

Often seen formats:

If....., then...

....has a positive effect on...

IT IS OK IF YOUR HYPOTHESIS IS INCORRECT

Materials and Method

Testing if you hypothesis is correct

what materials do you need?

what steps are needed to answer the research question?

-Control group

- can someone else copy it?

using your method?

Results

• Write down your results
• Displaying results in tables and graphs
• Drawing conclusion from results

Conclusion

=
 the answer to the research question

Drawing conclusion from results
Was your hypothesis correct?

Is the hypothesis:  accepted or rejected

Discussion

What went well?

Do you trust your results?

What went wrong?

What could be improved?

What will you do differently next time?

NOT ABOUT YOU!! ABOUT THE RESEARCH

 Experiment

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