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?

Do Qs 1 and 2 

Learning how to do research