Key Concepts in Scientific Research and Techniques

Exploration & Discovery

Making observations, asking questions, reading literature

Testing Ideas

Forming hypotheses, collecting/interpreting data

Community Analysis & Feedback

Peer review, replication, critique

Benefits & Outcomes

Developing tech, solving problems, informing policy

Abstract

Short summary of entire paper

Introduction

Background, importance, hypothesis

Methods

Step-by-step process to replicate study

Results

What you found (figures, tables, analysis)

Discussion

What it means, implications, limitations

Primary Literature

Original research

Secondary Literature

Reviews

Tertiary Literature

Textbooks, encyclopedias

SCOPUS

Peer-reviewed, filtered, and citable

Google

Mixed quality, not always scholarly

CRAAP Test

Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose

IV

What you change

DV

What you measure

Controls

What stays the same

Descriptive Study

Describe observations

Non-experimental Study

Correlation

Experimental Study

Controlled & can show causation

Pipettors

Always use correct tip, never exceed volume range

Centrifuge

Separates by density (always balance tubes!)

PCR

Exponential Amplification

Ideal DNA Concentration

~20-100 ng/µL for PCR

A260/280 Ideal

~1.8

A260/230 Ideal

~2.0-2.2

DNA Barcoding

Uses short DNA sequences from a known part of the genome to identify the taxonomic identity of an organism using a database