Colin Donnelly-
Scientific method
The scientific method is a set of steps that defines the appropriate order of events to structure and carry out an experiment.
-
What are the 8 steps of the scientific method?
Generate a testable question
Gather data and resources
Form a hypothesis
Collect new data
Analyze the data
Interpret the data and existing hypothesis
Publish
Verify results
-
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is the proposed explanation or proposed answer to our testable question. It is often in the form of an if–then statement, which will be tested in subsequent steps.
-
Experimentation
Manipulating and controlling variables of interest to evaluate a hypothesis.
-
Observation
Testing a hypothesis while manipulating the subject of interest as little as possible.
-
Peer review
The evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work
-
It is easy to focus on research that agrees with our expectations or opinions, and to ignore research that goes against them. This is an example of _____ at work.
confirmation bias
-
In terms of the scientific method, the MCAT will most often test ...
... experimental or logical errors during research.
-
In order to form a good testable question, it must be _____. The same is true of our hypotheses.
restricted to a relatively narrow area
-
Most questions that begin with "_____" are too broad to be testable through a single experiment.
Why
-
The _____ ensures that a hypothesis is testable (within reason).
if–then format
-
FINER method
Feasible?
Interesting?
Novel?
Ethical?
Relevant?
-
Some examples of feasibility concerns are ...
... financial or time constraints, or the inability to gather enough subjects.
-
Why is interest a necessary part of an experiment?
If there is little interest in the outcome of a particular research question, then the research will have little utility. In essence, unless the experiment helps solve a real-world problem or is particularly "interesting", nobody will care about the experiment and no-one will want to pay for it.
-
What does the FINER method help with?
The FINER method for evaluating a research question is a method to determine whether the answer to one’s question will add to the body of scientific knowledge in a practical way and within a reasonable time period.
-
If an experiment isn't novel, then ...
... the results of the experiment will confirm or refute a previous finding. They will not likely add to the body of scientific knowledge.
-
What makes an experiment relevant?
The more people that the research will impact in everyday life, the more important (relevant) it usually is.
Finding a treatment for some extremely rare disease may be more impactful on an individual basis than finding, say, finding the most appealing scent of cologne, but since the latter impacts more people it will be much more relevant. Still, most people would consider the former a more useful experiment.
