introduction to biological science research

8/13/2019 Introduction to Biological Science Research

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- Is a set of methods used to collectinformation about phenomena in a particulararea of interest and build a reliable base ofknowledge about them.

- Involves developing theories to help betterdescribe, explain, and organize scientificinformation

- Information is obtained through observationand measurement of phenomena



- Requires that any explanations forphenomena can be modified and corrected ifnew information becomes available (Nothingin Science is taken as an absolute truth)

- All scientific observations, conclusions, andtheories are always open to modification andperhaps even abandonment as new evidence

is discovered.



- Is someone who does science- A person who adopts the methods of science

in his or her quest for knowledge

-

Engaged in a wide range of activitiesdesigned to acquire knowledge in their fields



Is a way of thinking and of viewing the world A scientist approaches a problem by carefully

defining its parameters, seeking out relevantinformation, and subjecting proposedsolutions to rigorous testing

An individual with a scientific outlook doesnot accept everything at face value



- Use a wide variety of techniques, each suitedto a particular purpose



BASIC RESEARCH- Is conducted to investigate issues relevant to

the confirmation or disconfirmation oftheoretical or empirical positions

- Major goal is to acquire general informationabout a phenomenon, with little emphasisplaced on applications to real- world

examples of the phenomenon (Yaremko,Harari,Harrison, & Lynn, 1982)



APPLIED RESEARCH- Investigate a problem based in the real world

- Primary goal is to generate information thatcan be applied directly to a real- world

problem.



SCIENCE Findings published in peer reviewed

publications using standards for honestyand accuracy aimed at scientists.

Experiments must be precisely describedand be reproducible. Reliable results aredemanded.

Scientific failures are carefully scrutinized

and studied for reasons for failure. Over time and continued research, more

and more is learned about scientificphenomena.

Idiosyncratic findings and blunders“average out” and do not affect the actualphenomenon under study.

Scientists convince others based on

evidence and research findings, makingthe best case permitted by existing data.Old ideas discarded in the light of newevidence.

Scientist has no personal stake in a specificoutcome of the study.

PSEUDOSCIENCE Findings disseminated to general public via

sources that are not peer reviewed. No pre-publication review for precision or accuracy.

Studies, if any, are vaguely defined and cannot bereproduced easily. Results cannot be reproduced.

Failures are ignored, minimized, explained away,rationalized or hidden.

No underlying mechanisms are identified and nonew research is done. No progress is made andnothing concrete is learned.

Idiosyncratic findings and blunders provide theonly identifiable phenomena.

Attempts to convince based on belief and faithrather than facts. Belief encouraged in spit of facts,not because of them. Ideas never discarded,regardless of the evidence.

Serious conflicts of interest. Pseudoscieintistmakes his or her living off of pseudoscientificproducts or services.



• In most cases, the explanations for everydayevents are made on the spot, with littleattention given to ensuring their accuracy.

• We often base our thinking on hearsay,conjecture, anecdotal evidence, or unverifiedsource of information

• Adopt an approach that has proven its ability

to find explanations of great power andgenerality = SCIENTIFIC METHOD



- Is an explanation based on the application ofaccepted scientific methods.

- A scientific explanation for a phenomenon isa tentative explanation, based on objectiveobservation and logic that can be empiricallytested.



1 Empirical- based on the evidence of the senses

- observable events and conditions must becapable of verification by others

2 Rational

- follows the rules of logic and is consistentwith known facts



5 General- explanations of broad explanatory powerover those that “work” only within a limitedset of circumstances

6 Tentative- willing to entertain the possibility that theexplanation is faulty



7. Rigorously Evaluated- Even accepted explanations may be

overthrown in favor of views that are moregeneral, more parsimonious, or moreconsistent with observation



Commonsense Explanations vs Scientific

Explanations

Belief Based Explanations vs ScientificExplanations

introduction to biological science research

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