If you intend to make or behavioral research, genetics, taxonomy and biology in general, to obtain a result as adjusted to reality as possible is essential to develop a methodology to follow, in order to establish a scientific method to certify the accuracy of the results of your study.
purpose of establishing a scientific method in your studies:
The rationale of the scientific method lies in studying the phenomenon to reveal reality, to understand the environment in which it develops and disclose or operation stages of the studied phenomenon.
basic structure A scientific method for our studies acuarófilos:
then enumerate the main points and introduce some tips to manage optimally.
1) Observe :
The basis of all study revolves around the observation, both the precedents of the study (observations invite us to develop a hypothesis, hypothesis which we started to conduct the study) and the events that occur in the course of the study.
2) Form a hypothesis:
Hypothesis must conform to logic, that is, develop a hypothesis through realistic conclusions, the result of data collected in the preliminary observations.
3) Experimentation / Study of the phenomenon:
To verify, discard or adjust to the reality of the scenario, creating a true theory, this hypothesis must be subject to continuous study, covering all influential data on the phenomenon (determinants) and isolating the study unrelated data (Factors Safer for the study for not influence the results thereof).
4) Data collection:
This point is fundamental to the study, establishing a methodology for the study and isolate factors Determinants of Safer.
For this, it is mandatory to define more depth with these two terms:
a) Determinants :
All those whose value falls significantly in the final outcome of the study and, therefore, are factors to consider in their different valid values \u200b\u200b(range of values \u200b\u200bthat must be studied for its effect on the study, ignoring the values \u200b\u200bthat have no effect whatsoever on the outcome of the study).
b) Factors Safer:
are those without any influence to the final outcome of the study, as would be the factor "color of the fish for the Study" Proliferation of bacterial populations in the aquarium. "
is equally important to spend time and study their different values \u200b\u200band their impact on the outcome of the study to rule out a factor in that study, Factor labeling it Safe. Also, always consider the possibility that there are factors not included in the study, whose different values \u200b\u200binfluence the final result of it.
At this point, all the determinants stabilize, leaving them in balance or at minimum, as appropriate, forming what is known as "control point", ie a reference to the interaction of the Determinants of the phenomenon studied.
To proceed, introduce a simple example which I'll linking with examples of terms that appear, well, we set the example of previous study, "The proliferation of bacterial populations in the aquarium." In any study
we consider each factor in this study, we must not focus our attention exclusively on collecting data on the evolution of bacterial populations and their relation to the different temperatures, if our study tries to reveal the origin of the phenomenon (the proliferation of bacteria in the aquarium) or to confirm the influence of temperature on this phenomenon. It is essential for the proper conduct of the study to consider all the factors with direct influence on the study (eg, Ph, Gh, Kh, oxygenation, water chemistry, filtration, substrate ,...).
Given this approach, including 2 Study methods, ie, 2 methods for organizing the experiment
d) Reduced Method:
is a smaller experiment with some success, as the data collection is accurate but very limited, to reduce the workload and reduce the duration of the study. To this end, Study Determinants considered outside the main focus of the experiment (eg, GH, KH, filter, substrate, pH ,...) be maintained with a fixed value throughout the experiment, trying to fix a value The leave balance if applicable (eg, pH = 7, without filtering, without substrate ,...). To balance the temperature (not advisable, since it's influence all the phenomena that occur in the aquarium and therefore should always be considered as possible determinants), we turn to the calculation of the mean, based on the range of acceptable values \u200b\u200b( assuming an acceptable temperature range for health reasons, of 24-30 º C, where 27 º C would be the average, this concept is applicable to other factors that are subject a range of known values.)
e) Method Extended:
This method is relegated
researchers time and resources, as well as a cluster of research groups (distribution task among many members that after the organization is centralized, to expedite the study.)
In this way you reach for the highest possible level of precision in the studies, exponentially complicating the work of experimental design and its full implementation (experiments, data collection and analysis thereof).
Broadly it comes to all independent experiments directly relevant to the study, based on the determinants of study, so we will have to study the properties of each determinant factor from the point of control testing it work each determinant factor keeping the rest of Determinants in balance or minimum (as appropriate).
A practical example, if we study certain phenomenon for which Determinants estimate the pH, temperature and the electroconductivity, we set the control point (pH = 7, temp = lower the acceptable range for the study and electroconductivity minimum, 0 ppm), then began working separately, keeping the rest in balance. For example, studying the values \u200b\u200b10.20, 50,100,150,200 ppm of the electroconductivity, while pH was maintained at 7 and the temperature to the minimum value of the valid range for the study. Having completed the experiments on the properties of the electroconductivity, we should establish a 0 ppm again and start with the following determinants, such as temperature.
Once we're done with the properties of each factor, touch analyze the relationships between determinants, which means again complicate the work:
proceed to study the behavior of 2 of the determining factors in their different values, keeping the rest of Determinants in balance.
In our practical example, we have the control point (what a metaphor would be all to 0), the properties of each (all at 0 least we studied), so we start with "all at 0 "and the factors to consider to" 1. " We understand the value 0 least where 1 is the next value from the bottom.
Therefore, ph leave it to 7 (neutral value = minimum value in this case) and began to study the relationship temperature = 24 ° C <-> EC = 10 ppm, 24 ° C <-> 20 ppm, 24 ° C <-> 50ppm, 24 º C <-> 100 ppm, 24 ° C <-> 150 ppm, 24 ° C <-> 200 ppm.
Then the next value, temperature 25 º C <-> 10 ppm, 25 ° C <-> 20 ppm, 25 ° C <-> 50 ppm, 25 ° C <-> 100 ppm, 25 ° C <-> 150 ppm, 25 ° C <-> 200 ppm.
So we will continue until 30 º C (if 30 ° C is the maximum accepted into the study) <-> 200 ppm (the maximum established in the study) at this time we will have studied all the relationships between these 2 factors and spend another couple that we have not studied.
To 1 Studio determinants A, B, and C, will study relationships between the pairs AB, AC, BC.
Once the study of the relationships we will continue moving up the complexity of the model, studying the relationship between total factor, following the model of relations between factors.
To 1 Studio determinants A, B and C, should be studied both factors A, B and C (ABC), modifying only 1 factor in each new experiment.
Note: To increase the accuracy of the study without excluding factors that may affect the phenomenon, alone or in combination with others is important to remember that chemical reactions are key in this sense, therefore, can not be ruled 1 Factor for apparent safety of the phenomenon from the point of control to compare the behavior of the properties of this factor, even though we do not get changes through this factor in relations with other determinant factors of the Study. (As a practical example, GH may have been discarded by mistake of the study, as total hardness salts a determining influence in a study involving monitoring the electroconductivity, although initially we considered that the phenomenon did not influence ...).
For a complete study on the factors listed as Safe are such a thing, everyone must be subjected to study and its conclusions will be where real data are discarded.
5) Remove the conclusions of the study:
The aim of the study will reveal the phenomenon, therefore, should study the data and find significant changes in the studied phenomenon, developing a monitoring developments it through various securities purchased by Determinants. Only so we conclude the influence or safety factors to the phenomenon studied.
6) External factors:
an external factor that study is beyond the control of the study but that hits the same, usually in a negligible percentage (1 - 5%). If an external factor influencing conclusively to study at a rate greater than 5%, we must consider as determining factors (usually external factors are environmental factors in the case of genetic studies will have to take them into account, because environmental factors affect quantitative inheritance in populations.
7) The exception that breaks the rule:
The aim of the studies is to obtain a pattern of the experiments, which will result in the theory that generates, along with the initial hypothesis, the rule governing the phenomenon under study.
This rule will be the support of the theory developed, based on data from the study, but the effectiveness of the rule is likely to be 100%, except for cases which do not conform to the rule. Such cases, if not pass the 1% compared to the rest are expected anomalies considered, "exceptions to the rule" developed.
If the percentage is greater than 1% of the cases, it will review the study, seeking to adjust the rule we have developed to calculate the phenomenon.
8) Overcrowding data:
To give valid data collected by each experiment in the studio, not enough to make these experiments a symbolic number of times, because the accuracy is the average of values \u200b\u200bobtained in the experiment and this implies that the greater the number of times an experiment is conducted, the greater the extent and accuracy achieved by the resulting average, this means, in short, that 1000 runs from 1 experiment will half more in line with the fact that 3 runs of the media.
This point, along with the complexity of a study of the phenomenon using the method Extended life make the creation of several parallel study groups with which streamline the workload and play the same experiment in different locations to try to banish from the average environmental factors.
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