Scientific Process - Course Schedule (Course Notes)

Scientific Process (Banner)

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

08/24 and 08/26

Introduction
- Research Interest Questionnaire
- 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

Course history –Meers paper

- Are there different types of literature?

- Retrieving journal articles.

- Library Databases

- Example proposal questions/titles

- Research Interest Questionnaire (bring to class)

- Opening Questionnaire (bring to class)

- Faculty Resources at FGCU

*Invite Danielle Rosenthal to class

Week #2

08/31 and 09/02

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

Science versus Non-science
- Sagan, C. 1996. The most precious thing. Chapter 1 in The Demon Haunted World.

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

Evaluating Scientific Papers
- Janick-Buckner, D. 1997. Getting undergraduates to critically read and discuss primary literature

Evaluate Scientific Paper

INSTRUCTOR’S CHOICE

- Retrieving journal articles
- Critical Evaluation Guidelines
- Leading a Discussion
(For Paper Critique Leaders)
- Library Databases
- Example proposal questions/titles

- Take Angel Quizzes by Monday (Sagan & Park)

-Faculty Resources at FGCU and Research Question (bring two copies of the assignment)

- Bibliography (bring two copies)

-Peer/Faculty Review Sheets (make TWO copies)

09/06

Labor Day – No class on Monday

Week #3

09/09

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
- Leading a Discussion
(For Paper Critique Leaders)

- Sample Introductions

- Sample Introduction Outlines

- Library Databases

- Annotated Bibliography (bring two copies)

Peer/Faculty Review Sheets

Week #4

09/14 and 09/16

Peer Review Introduction Outline

Developing Introduction

Critically Evaluate Scientific Paper – focus on Introduction & Methods

Example of Methods

Evaluate Scientific Paper

INSTRUCTOR and/or STUDENT CHOICE(S)

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

- Sample Introduction Outlines

- Introduction Outline

Peer/Faculty Review Sheets

Survey for FGCU library (please evaluate Danielle Rosenthal’s presentation on accessing library journals and databases)

Week #5

09/21 and 09/23

Peer Review Methods Outline

Developing Methodology

Critically Evaluate

Scientific Paper
(Methods, Results & Discussion)

Evaluate Scientific Paper

INSTRUCTOR and/or STUDENT CHOICE(S)

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

- Methods Outline

Peer/Faculty Review Sheets

Week #6

09/28 and 09/30

Peer Review Introduction

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Research Objectives

- Why an IRB, SRC, or IACUC?*

Evaluate Scientific Paper

INSTRUCTOR and/or STUDENT CHOICE(S)

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

- Faculty (Research Summary)

- Introduction Peer Review Guidelines

-Sample CV

-IACUC Presentation

- Introduction

Peer/Faculty Review Sheets

*Members of the IRB and IACUC Committees speak to class

Week #7

10/05 and 10/07

Peer Review Research Objectives, Methods and CV

Abstract

Table of Contents

Evaluate Scientific Paper

INSTRUCTOR and/or STUDENT CHOICE(S)

- Proposal Description
- Proposal Guidelines
- Faculty (Research Summary)

- Sample CV

- Research Objective, Method & CV Peer Review Guidelines.

- Research Objectives, Methods & Curriculum vitae (CV)

Peer/Faculty Review Sheets

Week #8

10/12 and 10/14

Statistics

Data Analysis

Broader Implications of Research

Evaluate Scientific Paper

INSTRUCTOR and/or STUDENT CHOICE(S)

- Proposal Description
- Proposal Guidelines
- Faculty (Research Summary)
- Open Office (free office suite)
- Intro Peer Review Guidelines
- Research Obj., Method & CV Peer Review

- Data Analysis PowerPoint

- 1st Submission—(25% of your overall grade!) --Upload to ANGEL by Friday, 10/15 and bring 3 of exactly the same hard copy to class on the following Wednesday, 10/20

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

Peer/Faculty Review Sheets

10/19

Week #9

10/21

Peer Review (Editing)

- Peer Review 1st Submission

- 1st Submission reviewed today —(25% of your overall grade!) -- Bring 3 of exactly the same hard copy to class on Wednesday, 10/20

- Peer-Review 1st Submission (10% of your overall grade!) ***Upload to ANGEL on WEDNESDAY***

Week #10

10/26 and 10/28

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