The Scientific Investigation Project – Teaching Students How Science Is Done

 

Amy Marion

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2015, Volume 36

Abstract

Effectively teaching students how science is done can only be accomplished by assisting them in actually DOING science. To that end, I have developed a semester-long project in an introductory biology laboratory course which guides students from hypothesis formation through experimental design, data analysis, and ultimately an evaluation of the validity of the hypothesis. This Scientific Investigation Project allows students to investigate factors that may be correlated with a human disease (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer) by evaluating data compiled by the CDC in their annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Keywords:  scientific process

University of Oregon (2014)