Importance of Scientific Research
Scientific research helps us understand the world around us. Research helps people understand how things work and why certain things look or act the way they do. In addition to satisfying curiosity, research can also help save or prolong human life. Scientific research contributes to knowledge about how our bodies work, diet and nutrition, preventing and treating disease and safety considerations. It also leads to inventions of conveniences such as cell phones and microwaves.
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What Is Scientific Research?
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Scientific research consists of inquiries, observations and experiments. It attempts to use these to answer questions about what causes various phenomena. It is important to note that scientific research does not provide absolute answers to questions, but instead gives probable answers based on evidence gathered and current knowledge. New information can lead to the rejection of ideas previously believed to be true.
Guidelines For Scientific Research
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In order for research to be considered scientific, it must be conducted in accordance with the scientific method. This method creates conditions under which it is most likely that conclusions are drawn based on evidence rather than conjecture, superstition or common knowledge.
The scientific method begins with proposing a question to be answered. The question must be testable--that is, scientists should be able to answer it by studying data, conducting experiments and interpreting results. It also should not suggest a particular answer.
After proposing a question, scientists review prior research on the topic to learn what other scientists have done and believe. This stops them from wasting time repeating research that has already been done.
As a result of this research, the scientist creates a hypothesis, or possible answer to the question. A hypothesis must be falsifiable; the scientist should be able to provide examples of evidence that would disprove the hypothesis.
The scientist then conducts an experiment to test the hypothesis. Most experiments require two groups or objects to be treated the same except for one respect. By changing one variable, the scientist hopes to hone in on what is causing something to occur.
Once the experiment is complete, researchers analyze the results using statistical calculations and draw conclusions. They then let others in the scientific community know about their experiment and conclusions, usually by publishing papers. Other researchers then try the same experiment to see if they get the same results. This helps determine whether the conclusion drawn was valid. If researchers do not get the same results, they examine the way the original experiment was conducted and make a new hypothesis about why the results were different.
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Significant Achievements In History
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People have been trying to understand how the world works since ancient times. Many ancient Greeks were scientific researchers, asking questions and using their observations to try to answer questions. One of the most significant was Hippocrates, who was the first scientist to hypothesize that diseases had natural causes and that brain injuries could affect the body.
There were no large-scale scientific research projects until the mid 1600s. During this period, scientists began researching diverse topics such as the volume of gas and what types of organisms cause disease. It is during this period that Newton hypothesized about the existence of gravity and the laws of motion.
Scientific research during the late 1800s and early 1900s led to the invention of the airplane and motor car, as well as increasing our understanding of what causes disease.
Scientific Research Today
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Today, scientists are researching important questions related to our lives. For example, researchers have been hypothesizing about the cause and cure of AIDS since its emergence in the early 1980s; while there is no cure available today, research has led to the development of medication that can prolong the lives of AIDS sufferers. Researchers in other areas are working on questions such as how to slow down environmental decay, whether other planets contain life or are suitable for human habitation, or how to use technology to create more energy-efficient automobiles.
Reception Of Scientific Breakthroughs
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Historically, scientific breakthroughs have not always been widely accepted. Scientists have been ridiculed or even killed for going against widely-held beliefs.
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References
- Photo Credit cell culture image by alwayspp from Fotolia.com
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