Week 1 : Introduction and Science

Question 1

What is a research question?

Answer 1

A brief question that clearly identifies the problem or puzzle one seeks to answer.

Question 2

List the steps of the scientific process cycle.

Answer 2

Research Question -> Theorise -> Implications (Hypotheses) -> Data Collection -> Evaluation (Data Analysis)

Question 3

What are the two categories of theory?

Answer 3

• Deterministic theory
• Probabilistic theory

Question 4

What is deterministic theory?

Answer 4

A theory that describe relationships in a very mechanical fashion, e.g. if A then B.
- Example: The variant of the ABCC11 gene in your DNA determines whether you have wet or dry earwax.

Question 5

What is probabilistic theory?

Answer 5

A theory which is not stated in certainty but describes relationships we should, on average, observe, e.g. higher X leads to more Y.
- Example: Smoking causes cancer because of certain
substances in the smoke that increase the chance that a cell mutates.

Question 6

List three things that make a good hypothesis.

Answer 6

• A deduction of the theory
• Able to be represented falsely
• A little bit surprising

Question 7

Give two examples of a good hypothesis.

Answer 7

• People with benzopyrene in their blood tend to have a higher cancer risk.
• The more you smoke, the higher your risk of cancer.

Question 8

List 5 forms of data collection.

Answer 8

• Comparison of two objects (countries, cases, villages, …)
• Historical analysis
• Experiments
• Interviews with subjects
• Large data analysis (statistics)