Scientific articles that report the results of scientific research generally follow the same outline:
Take a look to see how this corresponds to the cycle shown below.
The video in the box to the right provides some good context for understanding the scientific method and its importance to scientific research.
In BSC 2010C, you will be learning about biology, but you will also be learning how to conduct scientific research - how to design and conduct experiments to help you find answers to a specific question. You will do this by using something called the scientific method.
Part of the scientific research process is knowing what others have already learned, and to do this, you need to look within the scientific literature that is out there.
This library resource guide has been created to support you in finding scientific articles that you can use.
There are several ways in which the scientific literature is reflected in reports of scientific research.
Raff, J. (2013, August 25). How to read and understand a scientific paper: A guide for non-scientists [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://violentmetaphors.com/2013/08/25/how-to-read-and-understand-a-scientific-paper-2/
An example of the scientific method: coral snakes.
Scientific Method in Brief by
The fundamental principles of the scientific method are essential for enhancing perspective, increasing productivity, and stimulating innovation. These principles include deductive and inductive logic, probability, parsimony and hypothesis testing, as well as science's presuppositions, limitations, ethics and bold claims of rationality and truth. The examples and case studies drawn upon in this book span the physical, biological and social sciences; include applications in agriculture, engineering and medicine; and also explore science's interrelationships with disciplines in the humanities such as philosophy and law. Informed by position papers on science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Sciences and National Science Foundation, this book aligns with a distinctively mainstream vision of science. It is an ideal resource for anyone undertaking a systematic study of scientific method for the first time, from undergraduates to professionals in both the sciences and the humanities.
Good Science, Bad Science, Pseudoscience, and Just Plain Bunk by
We are constantly bombarded with breaking scientific news in the media, but we are almost never provided with enough information to assess the truth of these claims. Does drinking coffee really cause cancer? Does bisphenol-A in our tin can linings really cause reproductive damage? Good Science, Bad Science, Pseudoscience, and Just Plain Bunk teaches readers how to think like a scientist to question claims like these more critically. Peter A. Daempfle introduces readers to the basics of scientific inquiry, defining what science is and how it can be misused. Through provocative real-world examples, the book helps readers acquire the tools needed to distinguish scientific truth from myth. The book celebrates science and its role in society while building scientific literacy.
A Beginner's Guide to Scientific Method by
This concise yet comprehensive guide provides an introduction to the scientific method of inquiry. You will not only learn about the proper conduct of science but also how to recognize and question factors such as pseudoscience, untestable explanations and fallacies. Compact enough to be used as a supplementary book, yet comprehensive enough in its coverage to be used as a core book, this book assists users in using the scientific method to design and assess experiments.
