The Scientific Method

M. Cahay

ECECS Dept.

University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0030

September 23, 2011

Outline

What does it mean to innovate?

(Theoretical, experimental, design innovations)

Attitude and good working habits in science

Key rules for innovators

Conclusions

Why did you cometo graduate school?

Hopefully, research is part of your blood type!Did you do independent research as a teen?As an undergraduate student?Have you ever discovered something on yourown (even though you may have found thesame discovery in a book later on)?If YES, you stand a chance to be successful here and after leaving here. If NOT, rethink aboutyour future. It is not too late!

Research is not easy!

Try to get rid off the Einstein’s syndrom

as soon as possible.

Arrogance will lead to disaster.

Be ready to spend more than 40 hours a week

working (whether you are in industry, in a

government lab, or in academia….

probably more so for the latter) for the rest of your life!

Serendipity is the exception rather than the rule!

Laws of NatureIsaac Newton observed an apple falling from a tree. He repeated the experiment many times.

Gallileo had done preliminary experiments on earth attraction dropping objec ts of different sizes and weights from Pisa tower.

Later, the experiments were repeated many times in many parts of the word at different times -> same results -> Law of nature was found. Actually law of gravitation

Beware before making bold announcements.Remember (fifth force, nuclear fusion,….)You are always as good as your last paper!

Hypothesis formation

Identify fundamental variablesMore difficult: Identify possible causal relationshipsExample: Newton’s law of attraction between two bodiesHypothesis testing = Experimental ResearchIdentify as many occurences where law applies!(planetary motion, Kepler’s laws, tides,…).Use law to make new predictions. Check these predictions.Best if include statistical analysis to identify relationships

between variables

Good Practice: Literature Survey… DAILY!!!!!!!!!

Use the web! http://www.libraries.uc.eduUse Institute for Scientific Information!http://cite.ohiolink.edu/isi/CIWYou can search by authors, subject index,Journal, year of publication, …..Bottom line: READ, READ, and READKnow the work of others or you will never be an expert It is good to walk to a library….DON’T JUST CLICK!... Sitting at your desk!Also, check the Los Alamos website http://xxx.lanl.gov

Good Practice (cont’d)

Use a logbook (even if your are a theoretician)

Crosscheck results at LEAST 3 times.

Have derivations or experimental data

checked by peers.

Immediately summarize what you have read.

If it going part of a paper or thesis.

Never cite a paper without reading it!

Good practice (cont’d)

Do not think your first draft (paper, thesis, report)

will be the last. For your first paper, a minimum

Of 5 iterations can or actually should be expected.

BY THE WAY, do not give a copy of a draft

to your advisor without running a spellcheck!

This is just asking for trouble (Actually, it is rude!)

Experimental DesignThere is always a better design!Make sure you read the manuals before pressing all buttons on the front panel!Pieces of equipment are expensive. Treat them like your own!Learn from previous students who used equipment before they leave.Write-up equipment operational mode very first time you use it.Keep upgrading the operational manual! Including pitfalls in the FRONT of manual!Watch for Murphy! He typically sneaks in at night!Beware of down times, water and/or power shutdown and share that information with other users.

ALWAYS put borrowed lab equipment back where you found it before leaving the lab. This is not just good practice but courtesy!If equipment is lost …. Guess what. You cannot use it anymore!

The worst pitfall of them all!

The more important the subject is to the researcher the more he or she needs to be on guard to avoid getting so caught up in it as to become a crusader rather than a detached enquirer. The more important the subject, the more necessary it is that the conclusions be subjected to the most rigorous testing. One has to play devil’s advocate to one’s own research findings. (P. Raimond, p.55, management projects, Chapman & Hall, 1993)

Results

(Journal Paper, Conference Presentation, Seminar,Thesis defense,…).(1) Honesty is the KEY.(2) Before presenting them, YOU must spend muchtime trying to prove them wrong.(3) Have papers read by peers, rehearse in front offriends, memorize your first talk (it will get easierwith age.)(4) Never write an abstract the day before it is due.

Results

(P. Raimond, Managements Projects,

Chapman & Hall, 1993)

“By playing the devil’s advocate to your own work, you will identify in advance where the attack may come from, and where there are weaknesses in the defense. This is never a justification for falsifying the evidence or for overstating a case. Once that sin is committed and discovered the research and the researcher have lost all credibility FOR EVER.”

Conclusions

You have at least 40 years of work ahead ofyou until retirement!Be ready to read faster than your shadow!Be ready to work in team!Be ready to change topics of research quickly! Keep good records of whatever you do!Develop good habits quickly! Teach them to your peers, especially team members! GOOD LUCK!