Scientific Process (Banner)

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Course Schedule:

 

Below is a week-by-week schedule for the course.  Reading assignments are available on the course website, ANGEL or are provided in class.  Be sure to note the due dates for each reading as there is a corresponding on-line ANGEL quiz for each reading that is to be completed before class.  Print your quiz answers and bring them to the class during which the paper is scheduled to be discussed.

 

Proposal Assignments and Draft Sections: All proposal assignments are due no later than the start of class time on the date noted in the schedule below.  Please bring two hardcopies of each assignment to class. A peer will review one, which you will take with you after class to revise, and the instructors will take the other copy. You will then place a revised copy of the assignment into the appropriate drop-box in ANGEL.  Failure to turn in assignments on time will result in no credit for that assignment.

 

The Schedule below is flexible.  We will make changes throughout the semester as we tailor the course to your and our interests. However, due dates will not change.

 

Week# and Date

Topics

Readings

Helpful Links

Assignment

Week #1

1/11 and 1/13

Introduction
- Opening Questionnaire
- Introduction & Course Overview

Research Plan
- What is a research proposal?
- Create scientific questions.

Scientific Literature*
- Finding and retrieving articles
- Literature types

Faculty Resources at FGCU

Meers, M.B., Demers, N.E. and Savarese, M. (2003/2004). Presenting the Scientific Process: Introducing Philosophy, Theory, Methods and Ethics of Science. Journal of College Science Teaching 33:3:34-39 Available with permission from the publisher

 

Science versus Non-science
- Sagan, C.  1996.  The most precious thing.  Chapter 1 in The Demon Haunted World. (*available from the www)

- Park, R.  2000.  The Belief Gene: In which science offers a strategy for sorting out the truth.  Chapter 2 in Voodoo Science

- Are there different types of literature?

- Retrieving journal articles



- Sample proposal questions/titles

- Opening Questionnaire (bring to class on second day)

- Faculty Resources at FGCU - see the 'science faculty' button in the header for science fauclty interests-consult the experts to help refine your question-

Take the Science attitudes survey on ANGEL

 

 

Discussion points about Sagan and Parks readings

Week #2

 

1/18 and 1/20

Science
- What is science?
- Science vs. non-science

Critically Evaluate Scientific Paper
– focus on research questions and bibliographies

Peer-Review Process Begins
- Peer review Bibliography


 

Evaluating Scientific Papers
- Janick-Buckner, D. 1997. Getting undergraduates to critically read and discuss primary literature *avail. on www from the author's webpage

Evaluate Scientific Paper 

- Retrieving journal articles
- Critical Evaluation Guidelines
- Leading a Discussion
(For Paper Critique Leaders)

-Resource guide for Scientific Process


- Example proposal questions/titles- this where you want to go!

- Take ANGEL Quizzes by First class of week 2 (Sagan & Park)

 


Submit a piece of primary literature to ANGEL drop box for consideration of in-class critical review

 


 

 

Week #3

1/25 and 1/27

Peer Review Process
- Peer Review Annotated Bibliography



Critically Evaluate Scientific Paper
– outline an introduction

Evaluate Scientific Paper

 INSTRUCTOR and/or STUDENT CHOICE(S)

 

- Retrieving journal articles
- Critical Evaluation Guidelines
- Proposal Description


- Sample Introductions

- Sample Introduction Outlines



- Bibliography due 1/25

 

 

Week #4

2/1 and 2/3

Peer Review Introduction Outline

Developing Introduction


Critically Evaluate Scientific Paper
– focus on Introduction & Methods

 

Evaluate Scientific Paper

INSTRUCTOR and/or STUDENT CHOICE(S)

- Critical Evaluation Guidelines
- Proposal Description


- Sample Introduction Outlines

IRB representative to class- Dr. Cliff Renk

 

- Annotated Bibliography due 2/1

Introduction Outline due 2/3 bring a copy to class

 

Week #5

2/8 and 2/10

Peer Review Methods Outline

Developing Methodology

Critically Evaluate

Scientific Paper
(Methods, Results & Discussion)

Evaluate Scientific Paper

- Critical Evaluation Guidelines
- Proposal Description
- Leading a Discussion
(For Paper Critique Leaders)

 

Example of Methods

Introduction due 2/8

 

 

Week #6

2/15 and 2/17

Peer Review Introduction

Research Objectives

 

 Evaluate Scientific Paper

 

- Critical Evaluation Guidelines
- Proposal Description
- Leading a Discussion
-(For Paper Critique Leaders)

- Introduction Peer Review Guidelines

 

 

 

 

Week #7

2/22 and 2/24

Peer Review Research Objectives, Methods and CV

Abstract

Table of Contents

 Evaluate Scientific Paper

INSTRUCTOR and/or STUDENT CHOICE(S)

- Proposal Description

Peer Review of Methods


- Sample CV

CV Template


- Research Objective & CV Peer Review Guidelines.
 

 

Methods due 2/24 BRING A COPY TO CLASS

 

Week #8

3/1 and 3/3

Statistics

Data Analysis

Broader Implications of Research

Evaluate Scientific Paper

INSTRUCTOR and/or STUDENT CHOICE(S)


- Intro Peer Review Guidelines
- Research Obj., Method & CV Peer Review

- Data Analysis PowerPoint

Proposal checklist

Data Analysis worksheet

Statistics Flow chart

- Cover sheet (include this coversheet as the first page of your submission)

-peer review first submission

 

IACUC Presentation in class 3/1

 

 

3/8 and 3/11

SPRING BREAK NO CLASSES SPRING BREAK NO CLASSES SPRING BREAK NO CLASSES SPRING BREAK NO CLASSES

Week #9

3/15 and 3/17

Peer Review (Editing)

Types of Science
- Types of Science
- Falsification vs Historical Science
- Basic and Applied Science
- Broader Implications

Types of Science
-  Cleland, C. E.  2001.  Historical science, experimental science and the scientific method.

*avail. on www
-  Chalmers, A. F.  1982.  Ch. 4: Introducing Falsificationism.

 

 

Experimental design/data analysis powerpoint

Experimental design/data analysis handout

 

-- 1st full Submission for peer review—-BRING copy to class

Peer-Review 1st Submission    print off the Research Obj., Method & CV Peer Review for class on day of peer review

 

 

- On-Line Angel Quizzes
   (Cleland & Chalmers)

Week #10

3/22 and 3/24


Scientific Presentation


Theories as structures: Kuhn's Paradigms


Bring typed answers to the following to class:

What does Kuhn mean by a scientific revolution? (1 paragraph)
Does science progress?  What do you think? (1 paragraph)

 

 

Week #11

3/29 and 3/31

Funding panel review and assignment

Funding Panel begins

 - Funding Panel

 

 

3/25

Last Day to Drop Classes---

 

Week #12

4/5 and 4/7

Scientific Assumptions

Scientific Ethics



Scientific Ethics
-  Fuchs and Macrina 2005.  Ethics and the Scientist

déjà vu plagiarism paper
-  Couzin-Frankel & Grom 2009. Plagiarism Sleuths

Poster Do's and Don'ts

- Complete Proposal Description

- On-Line Angel Quizzes
(Fuchs)

 

Week #13

 

4/12 and 4/14

Student Evaluations

review

Final exam review



 - Presentation Guidelines

Poster Blank

Saving to the student share

  Guidelines for successful posters (powerpoint)

pwerpoint due to share drive no later than 8 AM April 18

 

Week #14

4/19 and 4/21

 

Student presentation

(10% of your overall grade!)

 

- Complete Proposal Description

Proposal Poster grading form

 

 2nd Submission due in class on April 21st

 FINALS WEEK

Week #15

4/26

1:30-4:15

FINAL EXAM

(15% of your overall grade!)

Final Exam potential questions

Final Submission guidelines

-- FINAL EXAM Tuesday 1:30-4:15 AB7 116

 

 


 

Readings must be completed by the beginning of class.  Assignments are due at the beginning of class.

 

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© Meers, Savarese, Demers, Barreto, Kakareka, Volety, Everham, Cruz-Alvarez, Loh, Goebel, Fugate, Bovard, Hartley, Mujtaba, Gunnels & Green 2010.

This is an official FGCU web page.  Florida Gulf Coast University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

For changes, dead-links, or mistakes, contact: ndemers@fgcu.edu

Last updated February 16, 2011