Scientific Method

Read the Article:

These researchers developed a research question that came from observations of an environmental science problem in a community. They then designed an experiment to collect data/information to answer their question. Highly creative and interesting project! Dont you think?

The scientists knew that other research in predator/prey relationships showed that A number of small animals, including butterflies and frogs, sport large, intimidating eyespots. These eyespots scare away predators, perhaps by disorienting them, or tricking them into thinking their would-be prey is actually a different, larger animal

So, they creatively thought: Would this also work in this situation: to protect cows from predators? Lets try it!

The researchers then wrote their experiment and results in a scientific article and published it in a professional journal so others could learn and repeat the same experiment.

Next: Read their published scientific article:

Artificial eyespots on cattle reduce predation by large carnivores

Think about the Scientific Method – How Science Works diagram while reading it.

Can you find each step? Compare the style of writing in the magazine article with the journal article. Ask yourself: How and Why are they different? Why is the title different?

Assignment

Submit a two page reflection/ comprehension of the readings as a docx or pdf

Analysis must include (but not limited to) the following writing prompts

• Briefly summarize the articles
• Explain your overall response to the readings- what interested you, anything difficult or puzzling?
• Compare the style of writing in the magazine article with the journal article. How and Why are they different? Why is the title different? Why couldn’t they have just published the scientific journal article?
• Any further questions you have about their research that have stemmed from the readings?

Then

Answer the following questions while using the How Science Works diagram- the questions follow the diagram from top to bottom- working through the Scientific Method.

• What was the practical problem and motivation for the eye spot research?
• What were the observations they had and questions they proposed? This might be similar to #1 thats ok.
• What was the hypothesis – how did they use prior knowledge and previous research (think of eyespots on other animals)
• How did they gather data (the method?)
• What were the results of the experiment?
• The results/research was published. Yay! Did it reveal new questions? Is further research needed? Why?
• Any Benefits to the community? Did this science solve an everyday problem? Did they address a societal issue? Did they build on existing knowledge?

Grade includes: the ability to articulate your responses professionally, use of correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. So in other words this is not a text message or an email response, but a formal mini paper that demonstrates your understanding of the readings and the method.