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    Introduction to Scientific Research: Strategy and Planning
    Introduction to Scientific Research: Strategy and Planning
    Introduction to Scientific Research: Strategy and Planning
    Ebook142 pages1 hour

    Introduction to Scientific Research: Strategy and Planning

    By Wendi K Wolfram

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    About this ebook

    Introduction to Scientific Research Strategy and Planning is designed as an introductory primer for students interested in conducting research focused in both environmental and natural sciences. The book introduces concepts for the novice while providing instrumental recaps for a more seasoned researcher. Because the thought of developing and conducting an individual research project for the first time can seem a surmountable task, having a primer to review the process and aid in breaking out the steps can be most valuable.The book is designed to explain the basic aspects of research using the scientific method and provides select examples along with concept applications and guidance on developing a written plan to conduct an individual research project. The text further explains how to modify a written plan to facilitate a variety of funding venues as well as briefly addressing ethical issues associated with research.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWolf-Ram Publishing, LLC
    Release dateApr 24, 2020
    ISBN9781949672022
    Introduction to Scientific Research: Strategy and Planning

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      Book preview

      Introduction to Scientific Research - Wendi K Wolfram

      Dedication

      To the all members of the Wolf Pack, past, present, and future, may the howls of the heart serenade the song in your soul. – W. Wolfram

      Preface

      Introduction to Scientific Research Strategy and Planning is designed as an introductory primer for students interested in conducting research focused in both environmental and natural sciences.  The book introduces concepts for the novice while providing instrumental recaps for a more seasoned researcher.  Because the thought of developing and conducting an individual research project for the first time can seem a surmountable task, having a primer to review the process and aid in breaking out the steps can be most valuable.

      The book is designed to explain the basic aspects of research using the scientific method and provides select examples along with concept applications and guidance on developing a written plan to conduct an individual research project.  The text further explains how to modify a written plan to facilitate a variety of funding venues as well as briefly addressing ethical issues associated with research.

      Introduction

      What is Scientific Investigation?

      Scientific investigation by definition is a derived method used to help us understand the world in which we live, whether from a biotic (living) perspective or an abiotic (non-living) perspective.  Scientific investigation aids in answering questions such as how and why, providing information explaining our everyday world.  Whether we realize it or not, we consistently ask ourselves, throughout the day, questions about random observations.  Sometimes we have the answers which were obtained from educational institutions, technology, or life experiences and sometimes the answers are unknown requiring a need for investigation.  Regardless, when we seek knowledge to enhance understanding or to find solutions, we are most often using a form of scientific investigation.

      Scientific Investigative Frameworks

      There are several frameworks associated with scientific investigations that provide structure for extracting and interpreting information.  The first and most common is the scientific method, often used synonymously with the term scientific investigation.  Here, we will refer to scientific investigation as the method used to help us understand the world within which we live, while referring to the scientific method as the tool that provides a framework for conducting investigations.  We will discuss the scientific method in greater detail in the Scientific Method chapter.

      A second framework associated with scientific investigation is one comprised of theories and paradigms. A theory is an idea supported by one or more experiments that explain the answer to a general question while a paradigm is an idea or concept supported by multiple theories.  Most scientific investigation is centered around paradigms where the very framework of the paradigm consists of theories intricately intertwined with other theories.  While a theory can be falsifiable, a paradigm will only change through scientific revolution known as a paradigm shift.  According to Thomas Kuhn, a renowned 20th century physicist and influential philosopher of science, a paradigm shift will change a previously established understanding of the world by providing new unprecedented information. Paradigm shifts are considered to be rare, however, as we see an increase in the development of new technology that allows us to delve deeper into the unknown, new paradigm shifts are very possible.

      While most scientific investigation is centered around paradigms, there are some areas of study that often work outside a set paradigm.  Areas encompassing environmental research concepts are such examples.  The environmental areas of wildlife biology and forestry are thought to be in a pre-paradigm stage (Gordon 2007) as they incorporate paradigms from a plethora of other fields, however, many specialists in these areas would argue that there are in fact existing paradigms for each.  Ecology (including conservation biology and restoration ecology), is another area of environmental research, that relies heavily on not only other parts of biology but also the physical sciences to ascertain information through experimentation.  These findings are then implemented in a variety of human activities from pollution abatement to farming, setting them apart from general biological paradigms. (Gordon 2007)  Despite being separated from general paradigms, ecology is vital to any applied research associated with natural or environmental studies.  As such, the terms holistic (study of whole organism / whole system approach), reductionist (study of the parts or components of larger systems), and realism (study of both whole and parts collectively) are often used to define the relationship between ecology and the rest of science. (Gordon 2007)

      Types of Scientific Investigation

      There are two widely accepted types of scientific investigation or scientific research, basic research and applied research.  Basic research is typically associated with investigations centered around expanding scientific knowledge or addressing a curiosity question.  In other words, the results have no immediate impact on real life situations.  They are theoretical in nature and often open provide creative insight that could lead to applied research.  Applied research is associated with investigations centered around solving an immediate problem or developing a tool or resource to address a specific concern.  The results from applied investigations have a profound impact on real life situations.

      Despite the years of separation among the scientific community with respect to basic versus applied investigations, many researchers believe that scientific investigation should not be separated into categories but should be seen as a collective whole with each blending into the other.  In reality, it takes both conjoined to interpret the complex global puzzle that makes up the world we live in.

      Who Conducts Scientific Investigation?

      Since scientific investigation is something everyone routinely participates in at a rudimentary level when problem solving, it is plausible to say that anyone is capable of conducting scientific investigations.  However, when it comes to large scale scientific investigations where funding is involved, most research is going to be conducted by larger organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Health (NIH), and various government agencies. (Gordon 2007)

      Scientific investigations on the larger scale are typically centered around applied research where organizations are tasked with finding solutions to very specific questions.  Their funding sources encourage collaborations between research universities, government agencies, industry, and other groups with vested interests. (Gordon 2007)  These collaborations can be effective checks and balances to the quality control of scientific investigations.  Since all scientific investigation, both applied and basic, is supported by public funds, the quality of research is significantly important to the advancement of science and is therefore accountable to the respective funding sources (legislatures, corporations, charitable foundations, business, etc). (Gordon 2007)

      Limitations of Scientific Investigations

      When developing a scientific investigation or research study, it is important to remember that in the idea phase, a researcher is limited only by their own creativity or imagination.  Once the project shifts from idea phase to the actual development phase, there are several limitations in addition to time and money that can impact its success.  The three main limitations can be summarized into ethical, methodological and structural limitations. (Gordon 2007)

      Ethical limitations can be categorized as limitations set by the individual researcher (religious or personal beliefs); pre-established laws and regulations governing the ethical use of specific organisms (endangered or threatened species; humans etc); or laws and regulations governing the ethics of certain procedures (cloning, etc).  It is important to remember that just because one can, it doesn’t always mean that one should.  We will discuss ethics in research in greater detail in the chapter on Research Ethics.

      Methodological limitations can be categorized as limitations on the methods being used in the study, whether its selecting a method that is hard to measure as a result of physical limitations (Gordon 2007) or selecting a method that could potentially alter the results due to unforeseen variables, such as using a non-descript collection container that reacts with the sample to alter the compounds of the sample prior to processing.  Problems arise in a study if the methods are not clearly vetted.

      Structural limitations can be categorized as limitations imposed by logic, math, and verbal expression (Gordon 2007) such as using the scientific method to try and confirm the existence of a deity.

      Developing a Scientific Investigation

      When developing a scientific investigation, ensuring the quality of the project through well written proposals is critical.  Written proposals that explain in detail the purpose of a study regardless of the discipline, location or size of the project (Gordon 2007)  help facilitate confidence among funding agencies and the scientific community in the success of

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