Scientific research lecture4 conduct the research

Conducting the research• First step: Learn how to work well in a lab./field • Plan your daily experimental work • Stick to your overall research plan • Design each experiment carefull

We have stepped thru…

Define your research topic/target

Collect information

Plan; choose aproaches & methods

Do it! Conduct the research

Conducting the research

• First step: Learn how to work well in a lab./field

• Plan your daily experimental work

• Stick to your overall research plan

• Design each experiment carefully

• Collect, analyze data and synthesize hypotheses

1st step: Learn how to work well in a lab

study lab rules (esp safety rules)  follow;

Learn how to work well in a lab

study lab rules (esp safety rules)  follow;

get acquainted with lab people;

Learn how to work well in a lab

study lab rules (esp safety rules)  follow; get acquainted with lab people;

get familiar with the lab arrangement;

Learn how to work well in a lab

study lab rules (esp safety rules)  follow; get acquainted with lab people;

get familiar with the lab arrangement;

get familiar with equipment

For field work

• Gather information about the area, the object, …

• Get familiar with workgroup people

• Get familiar with devices/equipment

Plan your daily experimental work:

Plan your daily experiments:

- according to the group schedule

and your own schedule

- by studying the experiments

carefullly

Designing an experiment

- An experiment is to test a small hypothesis, part of your topic

- An experiment can be:

a test of the effect of different actions:

Ex: different methods to grow a microbial strain

or a test comparing differing conditions as

one action is carried out

Ex: effect of T, pH, humidity,… on the efficiency of a

method to grow a microbial strain

Designing an experiment

• When designing an experiment  consider:

- Variables:

the independent/manipulated variable:

purposely changed by U!

the dependent/responding variable:

changes in response to the purposely change Ex: testing the effect of T on the growth of strain A

T = independent/manipulated variable

cell number of A = dependent/responding variable

Designing an experiment

• When designing an experiment  consider:

- A simple and good experiment should

have only one independent variable

 Try to keep all other conditions constant (same)

Ex: testing the effect of T on the growth of strain A

 only T changes

in all cases of changes, other conditions (pH,

medium, …) must be the same

Designing an experiment

• When designing an experiment  consider:

- Always have a control

You cannot always keep other conditions constant Ex: testing the effect of T on the growth of strain A

 T changes for one set of samples

 control: identical set of sample,

but under unchanged T

- Repetition is essential:

The more you repeat the ex, the more reliable the

results are

(what should be the same?)

Designing an experiment

• But before you start:

- Prepare all the materials required for the ex

- Check if all equipment required are available and functioning

- Carefully write down a sequence of manipulations you have to do

• After you finish your experiment:

- Check your hypothesis  if not correct  adjust it

 design new experiment  …

Organizing & Analyzing the Data

Ask yourself:

- How to organize and summarize the data collected?

- What do my data show? How should I present my data graphically so that others can see the results clearly? (e.g bar graphs, tables, pie charts, line graphs, etc.)

-Are the results significant? Are there tests I might use to tell me if the results are significant?

- Are the data statistically reliable? (standard deviation, sample size, …)

Interpreting the Data & Drawing Conclusions

stand back from your data - look at it more critically –

compare with literature information

 Decide what conclusions can be drawn

+

CONCLUSIONS

Interpreting the Data & Drawing Conclusions

Ask yourself:

What alternative hypotheses might explain these results?

How might my sampling or data collection methods have

affected these results?

What answer do my results provide to my original question?

How do my results compare to what I expected to happen (my hypothesis)?

How do my conclusions affect the community or "big picture" (implications)?

Communicating the Results

• Oral presentation

• Writing: reports, papers, thesis

“Writing is easy All you do is stare at

a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.”

Gene Fowler (1890 - 1960)