BIOL 118 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Scientific Control, Blind Experiment
Document Summary
A testable explanation for a set of factors (observations) A common sense problem solving technique: define the problem , gather background information, formulate hypothesis, run an experiment, observations & measurements, analyze data & research conclusions, publish your results. Should be a controlled experiment with a variable. In one setup, a factor is changed (the variable/ test group) The other setup is not changed (by the experient) and is used as the comparison (the control) * the sample size and sample population of a study is very important to note. Observations can be more useful when combined with objective description. Measurements are objective, very powerful, make observations more valuable. Randomized: participants are assigned to a particular treatment in a fully random manner. Double blinded: neither researchers nor study participants know what group they are assigned. Helps eliminate placebo effect in double blinded study. When someone feels better if they believe they are given a medicine.
