L2 - The Scientific Process

Question 1

What is the purpose of the scientific process?

Answer 1

Ask questions to better understand the world
- Explanation
- Prediction
- Generalization

Question 2

What are the key elements to the scientific method?

Answer 2

• Idea/Argument/Logic
• Testable
• Based on empirical observation
• Potential to overturn dogma
• Single observation or slow accumulation of evidence?

Question 3

What are the challenges to knowing?

Answer 3

High Complexity:
- Species interactions
- Heterogeneous landscapes

Limited information and uncertainty
- We rarely have full knowledge of any ecological system
- Often difficult to observe phenomena directly
(e.g.: number of individuals in a large population, events 1B years ago)

Multiple Explanations
- What makes one explanation the best explanation?

Question 4

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 4

• Make a prediction of the outcome with defined metrics of whether your prediction was correct or not.
  
  • For instance, “good” or “bad” are not well defined metrics
  • Quantifiable/measurable (an increase in 1°C) indicators are well defined metrics

Question 5

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 5

If we are in NOT in a state where our hypothesis is true, then what do we predict?

Question 6

What is a “balance of evidence”?

Answer 6

The best current model, given the available information achieved through repetitive hypothesis testing and refining/rejecting/supporting initial hypotheses.

Question 7

What is correlation vs. causation?

Answer 7

• Just because there is a connection between two things does not necessarily imply a causation
• However, a causation necessarily implies a correlation

Question 8

What is the scientific process in a nutshell?

Answer 8

1. Observation (pattern)
   - Hypothesis generation
2. Hypothesis (link pattern with process)
   - Hypothesis testing (experiments, surveys)
3. Observations (more patterns)
   - Support/refine/reject previous hypothesis

Question 9

What is the process for scientific publishing?

Answer 9

1. Pitch study for funding (low success rate)
2. Design study
3. Perform, analyze data, interpret - often preliminary results are shared at conferences
4. Submit to journal
5. Screened by editor
6. Reviewed by 2-3 reviewers
   - Assessed for:
   
   • Soundness of experimental design
   • Statistics
   • Reasonable conclusions/interpretation
   • Quality of writing/graphics
   • Level of impact/relevance
7. Papers are revised in response to feedback (if not rejected)
8. Published !!
   ** Most “jobs” in scientific publishing are done by volunteer scientists

Question 10

What is the structure of a scientific article?

Answer 10

• Abstract: why is the study ground breaking and what are the main findings?
• Introduction: context as to why the topic is important, arguments for hypothesis/study, situate work in the broader literature
• Methods: what did they do? provide enough details to replicate work
• Results: what did they find?
• Discussion: interpretation of findings, compare against other research findings, highlight strengths and weaknesses of project

Question 11

Weaknesses in the scientific method? Re-evaluation and critique?

Answer 11

• Bias: analyzing only the components that prove your hypothesis to be true…
• Location: where are we getting our data from and how would this influence our results?