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 question

• 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

Method

Different types of research:

Describing : collect data by observing

Experimental : testing hypothesis with experiment

- Control group

 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

Results and conclusion

• 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

Discussion

What went well?

Do you trust your results?

What went wrong?

What could be improved?

What will you do differently next time?