PHYS20009 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Design Of Experiments, Caffeine, Research Question
1 Feb 2020
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Lecture 2: research question, generate a hypothesis. Formal, predictive statement of intended question to be resolved made on currently available evidence for further investigation. An educated guess at what the outcome might be, based on your current knowledge. Characteristics of a good hypothesis: be testable: can be disproved, be written as a statement, not a question, predict the anticipated results including directionality (increase, decrease, or no change) Independent variable and dependent variable: clearly identify the species to be investigated, be based on prior observations or knowledge, proposed mechanism. Types of hypotheses: choice hypothesis, science students prefer brussel sprouts over chocolate, observational hypothesis, eg. Rising ocean temps results in more coral bleaching events due to increase stress on coral: manipulation hypothesis, describe effects of changing a variable on the dependent variable. Include the mechanism by which the independent variable alters the dependent variable: eg. Acute caffeine consumption increases alertness in humans by blocking adenosine receptors which invokes sleepiness.
