Research Methods
Course Description
This course is about learning to design field research projects, collecting and analyzing data, and writing clearly. Emphasis is also placed on the philosophy of science, critical thinking, and ethics.
Lecture/Discussion Schedule
|
Date |
Topic |
Reading Assignment |
|
21 Aug |
Introduction Literature searching |
· Library assignment handout |
|
28 |
The nature of science and the science of nature |
· Guthery, chapter 1 · Karban and Huntzinger, chapters 1-7 · Platt (1964) |
|
4 Sept |
Hypotheses: more than just educated guesses |
· Guthery, chapter 2 |
|
11 |
Induction, deduction, and retroduction: ways scientists think |
· Guthery, chapter 3 · Romesburg (1981) |
|
18 |
The nature of facts: what is evidence anyway? |
· Guthery, chapter 4 |
|
25 |
Science as a human enterprise |
· Guthery, chapter 5 |
|
2 Oct |
Thinking creatively |
· Guthery, chapter 6 |
|
9 |
Thinking critically |
· Guthery, chapter 7 |
|
16 |
Observational and experimental science |
· Garton et al. (2005) · Hurlbert (1984) |
|
23 |
Science writing: the toughest job you will ever love |
· Gustavii, chapter 1-3 |
|
30 |
Science writing |
· Gustavii, chapters 4, 9-17, 20-22 |
|
6 Nov |
Presenting data in tables and figures |
· Collier (2008) · Gustavii, chapter 5-8 |
|
13 |
Ethics: right conduct and a life of happiness |
· Guthery, chapter 14 · Karban and Huntzinger, chapters 1-7* |
|
20 |
Student research presentations |
|
|
4 Dec |
Student research presentations |
|