Research Methodology

Question 1

4 General principles of the scientific method

Answer 1

1. Formulation and testing of hypothesis
2. Controlled observations or experiments
3. Analysis and interpretation of date
4. Presentation

Question 2

Research Flowchart

Answer 2

Problem
Question
Design
Collection
Analysis
Dissemination

Question 3

Research Problem

Answer 3

Is it significant problem that will help others?
Funding- is it worth the public money?
Detailed lit review - been done before?
Is it ethical if already done

Question 4

Research Question

Answer 4

Identify the purpose
Participants risks and invasion of privacy consideration
IRB approval

Question 5

Data Collection

Answer 5

Respect participants
Respect privacy
Follow animal and recombinant DNA protocols
Document

Question 6

Data Analysis

Answer 6

How to protect anonymity
How will you analyze
Proper statistics

Question 7

Dissemination

Answer 7

Conference presentation and publication
Authorship defined
Proper conflict of interest disclosure
Avoid FFP

Question 8

FFP

Answer 8

Fabrication - making up data/results
Falsification - manipulating material, changing/omitting data/results
Plagiarism - appropriation ideas, results or words without appropriate credit

Question 9

Cooking

Answer 9

retaining/reporting only data that fits the theory, discarding others

Question 10

Trimming

Answer 10

Smoothing of irregularities to make data look more accurate and precise

Question 11

Research Design Pitfalls

Answer 11

Don’t get too close to Hypothesis
Experiment controls need to be thorough (neg and pos controls)
Expected vs Obtained results
Inaccurate record keeping

Question 12

Data Analysis/Collection Pitfalls

Answer 12

Interpretation of the data
Don’t jump to conclusions
-data do not support the hypothesis
-data do not support the hypothesis - are you sure?
Validity of Data
-Reproducibility - future research will depend on data
Keep proper data documentation