SCI 100 Module Three Activity Template: Finalizing Your Scientific Research Question
Instructions
Select one research question from those you wrote in the previous module. Use instructor feedback and what you have learned thus far in the course to revise your research question. Then, write your finalized research question below.
Example
The following example may provide some guidance on revising your own research question.
Main idea of news story:
The types of bacteria that live in the gut of people with chronic fatigue syndrome are different from the bacteria in people who do not have the disease. This indicates that there may be a connection between gut bacteria and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Possible research questions:
- What is the relationship between abnormal gut bacteria and inflammation?
- What is the relationship between gut bacteria and chronic fatigue syndrome?
- What is the relationship between inflammation and chronic fatigue syndrome?
Finalized research question:
- How could abnormal gut bacteria cause chronic fatigue syndrome?
Finalize your scientific research question related to the main idea of your chosen news story.
- [Insert finalized question here.]
Explain how your beliefs, assumptions, and values may have impacted your research question.
- [Insert text.]
Overview
All scientific inquiry starts with a question. Scientists may wonder why something exists, how it came to be, or how it interacts with other things. Whatever the inspiration, asking questions is at the heart of scientific research. In this activity, you will revise the research question that you would like to concentrate on as you continue working on your project.
Prompt
Use the provided Module Three Activity Template PDF to complete this assignment. You will consider the research questions you wrote in the previous module and choose one to focus on for your project. Use this opportunity to edit your research question based on instructor feedback and what you have learned so far in the course. Revising your question may involve the following:
Clarifying language
Connecting it more directly to your news story
Making it feasible
Narrowing its focus
Make it measurable
Ensuring it is ethical
You will also reflect on how your personal beliefs, assumptions, and values may have impacted how you wrote and revised your research question. For example, maybe a close family member has chronic fatigue syndrome, and you assumed the medical community does not know what causes it. So you decided to focus your research question on what contributes to the disease.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Finalize your scientific research question related to main idea of your chosen news story
Explain how your beliefs, assumptions, and values may have impacted your research question.
