Research Skills 1 : Experimental design

Question 1

What are the first steps of Science?

Answer 1

1. Observation
2. Exploration
3. Classification

Question 2

What is Induction

Answer 2

Definition: inference of a generalised conclusion from particular instances

• Investigating the unknown
• Looking for repeated patterns
• Devising theories and “laws” that will explain multiple patterns

Question 3

State the steps of Hypothetico-deductive method

Answer 3

1. Observation
2. Hypothesis
3. Predictions
4. Test
5. Two possible routes:
   a) Predictions Refuted
   - > BACK TO BEGINNING
   b) Predictions Confirmed
   - > MOVE ON

Question 4

What is Karl Popper - Refutation

Answer 4

Definition: A scientific theory is a theory that makes predictions that are capable of refutation

• Predictions which can be tested
• And potentially proved wrong (refutation)
• If the theory is wrong, the predictions will be wrong
• If the predictions are right, then the theory is potentially correct
  “The Logic of Scientific Discovery” K Popper, reissued by Routledge Classics (2002)

The job of a scientist is to put their theory to the test
If the theory is correct, it will succeed without any extra help from the researcher

Question 5

What do experiments depend on?

Answer 5

Assumptions

• What are my instruments really measuring?
• What do my reagents really do?

Question 6

What is required for Scientific Confidence ?

Answer 6

• Requires multiple independent lines of evidence

- Plus believable theory to make sense of the evidence

Question 7

What are Paradigms?

Answer 7

• Blind exploration of the unknown does not work
• Science does have a body of existing knowledge
• Based on sufficient evidence for all scientists to agree on
• Thomas Kuhn used the word paradigm to mean “A body of agreed knowledge, and ways of working” (Kuhn, Nature of Scientific Revolutions).

Dictionary definition Paradigm: An ideal model or example

Question 8

What is the Medical Microbiology?

Answer 8

We now have a paradigm- the science of Medical Microbiology

• Agreed body of knowledge
• Agreed methods
• We can make sense of existing and new epidemics
• And take action to control them

Question 9

What do Paradigms allow?

Answer 9

• Paradigms allow science to progress
• Scientists should not wilfully abandon paradigms that have been shown to work
• But if sufficient evidence arises that cannot be fitted in, it may be time to think again!