Scientific Research

Links Among Engineering, Technology, Science, and Society

Applications of Science

Explore the impact of technology on social, political, or economic systems.

Describe the dynamic interplay among engineering, technology, and applied science.

Identify the most appropriate scientific instruments and/or computer programs for different experiments and research, and learn to use, care for, and maintain them, gather data, and analyze results.

Engage in evidence-based arguments through the scientific method of investigation to understand the effective role that scientific discoveries played in the progression of humankind.

Research and present information about the history of the development of a scientific theory. Articulate reasons for refinements and/or replacement of this theory over time. 

Engage in argument from evidence supporting the statement that science is tentative.

Generate questions and engage in discussion regarding the role of ethics in scientific research and in decision making based on scientific information.

Make observations and ask questions about the natural world. Refine the questions such that they can be answered by way of scientific investigation. 

Use online search engines to find sources of scientific information. Develop, share, and revise criteria for evaluating reliability of sources.

Obtain and communicate information regarding ethical research practices pertaining to humans and animals as well as information regarding proper permitting agencies and procedures.  

Obtain and present information on research protocols including citation formats (APA, MLA, etc.), plagiarism, and copyright and patent laws. 

Engage in the peer review process by giving and receiving detailed feedback throughout the process of planning and carrying out investigations. 

Develop a research proposal including the following: a problem statement; purpose of research; significance of research; objectives; literature review (including both primary and secondary sources); materials and methods; detailed budget; data analysis procedures; and, references. Include a list of potential risks associated with the study and a detailed safety plan as appropriate for materials and methods. Revise the proposal based on feedback from teacher and peers.

Create a scientific journal and/or lab notebook for recording qualitative and quantitative data.

Carry out an original scientific investigation (experiment or study) after having received approval of a revised research proposal.

Select and use appropriate statistical procedures (descriptive statistics, t-tests, regression and correlation, chi-square, etc.) to analyze data. Use available calculators, spreadsheets, and statistical software programs.

Select and use appropriate data tables, graphs, and diagrams to represent data. Use mathematics and computational thinking to look for patterns in data.

Develop a conclusion based on data analysis and cite evidence to support the conclusion. 

Use data to develop a model. Evaluate the effectiveness of the model by making and testing predictions.

Evaluate experimental results and identify possible sources of error or bias in scientific investigations (published research, original research, and research of peers). 

Write a scientific paper based on original scientific research including the following or equivalent sections: abstract, introduction, literature review, materials and methods, results, conclusions, and literature cited.

Prepare and give a presentation based on original scientific research. 

Prepare a poster based on original scientific research and participate in a poster session.

Submit research to scientific agencies as appropriate.