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Applying the Scientific Method
How do you come up with good research ideas? Scientific Method
"To develop working ideas efficiently, I try to fail as fast as I can".Richard Feynman
Observe
Ask Questions
Speculate
Experiment
New ideas for research come from experience and imagination
A variation of the scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication
An idea
Write proposal
Conduct research
Write papers& speak
new ideas
new ideas
Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method
Searching the internet is integral part to every part of this process
A slide digression: the anatomy of a scientific paper.
• Introduction with thesis and hypotheses• Precedents (also in introduction)• Experimental details• Results of experiments• Discussion of results relative to thesis and
hypotheses• Conclusions • Citations and cited papers
Citations impact for authors: Hirsch Index
• measures both productivity and impact of publications of an author
• List all of an authors papers ranked by the number of citations
• Number them from 1 at the top.
• The point on the list where the number of the paper exceeds the number of citations is the Hirsch index.
The process starts with experience and learning: Observations
Conducting
researchas
undergraduate or graduate
Conducting
researchas
undergraduate or graduate
Making observations
& asking questions
Making observations
& asking questions
See if you can answer
question or if it has been
answered by others
See if you can answer
question or if it has been
answered by others
No answer to your
question. Then propose
a study
No answer to your
question. Then propose
a study
But how to get started having ideas?• Get an idea notebook• Couple Observing & Asking Questions together
– Go to the library and look through pictorial tables of contents (with an idea.
– Go to seminars– Go to work-shops (on new subjects)– Take classes (ask “obvious” questions or at
least write them down)• Identify & define a “problem”
– Google– Reviews– Experts
Write all ideas down & never censor
Next Step? Refine ideas.• Brainstorm• Re-phrase the question, problem or idea• Break it down into components• What do you know about the question, problem or
idea? » just the facts» Do they make sense?
• Brainstorm solutions • Map approaches to “solving” the question, problem or
idea• Down-select to one you can do relatively quickly.• Has it already been done (literature searching)?????
A variation of the scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication
An idea
Write proposal
Conduct research
Write papers& speak
new ideas
new ideas
Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method
General anatomy of a Proposal
Thesis & statement of problem
Thesis &
statement of problem
Technical approach:
project plan
Technical approach:
project plan
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
benefits to education &
society
benefits to education &
society
Remember your ideas will change as you write your proposal & as you conduct research
Proposal must be original; not a repeat of another’s work
General anatomy of a Proposal
Thesis & statement of problem
Thesis &
statement of problem
Technical approach:
project plan
Technical approach:
project plan
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
benefits to education &
society
benefits to education &
society
1) Must be original
2) Must have a clear thesis
3) Must have testable hypotheses with predictions
Thesis & statement of problem1) Must be original, but provide precedents for key steps
2) Must have a clear thesis
3) Must have testable hypotheses with predictions
- search internet exhaustively
- Early in proposal. For example, “A new method for creating polymer electrolytes through Friedel Craft Sulfonylation.”
Sulfonylations will allow addition of sulfonic acid groups without crosslinking into insoluble masses.
Example: Ring Opening Polymerization of Disilaoxacyclopentanes
Problem: sol-gel materials shrink from solvent evaporation & capillary force stresses collapsing pores
Thesis: Eliminate shrinkage by preparing liquid monomers with two strained disilaoxacyclopentane rings for solvent free, non-shrinking sol-gel.
Hypotheses (must be disproven):1)Monomers cannot be synthesized2)Disilaoxacyclopentane ring is not strained enough to provide driving force for polymerization 3)The monomer cannot be prepared as a liquid4)Polymerizations will be accompanied by significant shrinkage.
Example: Ring Opening Polymerization of Disilaoxacyclopentanes
Thesis: Eliminate shrinkage by preparing liquid monomers with two strained disilaoxacyclopentane rings for solvent free, non-shrinking sol-gel.
Need to assure reviewers of proposal that (based on precedents and logic):1) Monomers based on one disilaoxacyclopentanes readily polymerize2) None of the proposed monomers or anything like them have ever been made3) Reasons for expecting the monomer to melt at low temperatures4) That Ring Opening polymerizations reduce shrinkage5) that the resulting resins will be thermosets suitable for encapsulation
Precedents are the literature papers that provide foundation for your idea.
Who do you cite in your proposal (or paper)?
• The original (oldest) paper for each precedent ( Not just the most recent!!!!!)
• Provide a citation for everything that is not common knowledge. When in doubt provide a citation.
• Cite primary literature: peer reviewed papers• Do not the web, not reviews, not encyclopedias
nor textbooks.• You may have 20 – 40 citations for a
communication and 300-500 in a review or proposal.
Thesis & statement of problem
Thesis &
statement of problem
Technical approach:
project plan
Technical approach:
project plan
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
benefits to education &
society
benefits to education &
society
1) Details to prove the science behind your idea is good
2) What must be done first, second, third.... etc.
3) What procedures and instruments must be used and how.
General anatomy of a Proposal
Technical Approach & Project Plan1) Proof of Good Science
2) Logical approach to thesis and testing hypotheses
3) No bottle necks that kill project
-Details of the science involved- coupled with literature precedents
-Clear, concise plan (include flow diagram or Gant chart)
Do not hinge entire project on one single prediction
Ring Opening Polymerization of Disilaoxacyclopentanes Project Plan
Thesis: Eliminate shrinkage by preparing liquid monomers with two strained disilaoxacyclopentane rings for solvent free, non-shrinking sol-gel.
Monomer synthesis:1) Disilylation of bis-acetylenefollowed by cyclization2) alternative: silyl anion from disilaethane
Monomer synthesis:1) Disilylation of bis-acetylenefollowed by cyclization2) alternative: silyl anion from disilaethane
Model Ring opening polymerization studies with tetramethyldisila-cyclopentane
Model Ring opening polymerization studies with tetramethyldisila-cyclopentane
Year 1 Year 2
Polymerization studies of targeted monomers
Polymerization studies of targeted monomers
Characterization of polymersCharacterization of polymers
Neat polymerization & encapsulationsNeat polymerization & encapsulations
Year 3
Evaluation of shrinkageEvaluation of shrinkage
Thesis & statement of problem
Thesis &
statement of problem
Technical approach:
project plan
Technical approach:
project plan
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
benefits to education &
society
benefits to education &
society
1) Describe what laboratory space you have (hoods, floor space)
2) Describe your access to key instrumentation
3) Curriculum vitae for the principle investigators with lists of publications, awards, funding, education, etc.
General anatomy of a Proposal
Thesis & statement of problem
Thesis &
statement of problem
Technical approach:
project plan
Technical approach:
project plan
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
Facilities & Investigator Credentials
benefits to education &
society
benefits to education &
society
1) Benefits from new science or technology- reduce greenhouse gases, cure cancer, reduce costs by 25%. The more quantitative the better
2) How the project will be benefiting education of undergraduates (particularly underrepresented groups), training of graduates and postdocs.
General anatomy of a Proposal
A variation of the scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication
An idea
Write proposal
Conduct research
Write papers& speak
new ideas
new ideas
Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method
Most important characteristics of good research
• Original – with careful, multiple surveys of literature• There is a thesis – question(s) to be answered by
research• Work can be broken down into hypotheses that can
be tested. Do not become emotionally invested in experimental outcomes.
• Experiments are carefully designed and characterizations are complete.
• Complete experimentals with observations are recorded.
• Finally, the results are communicated (preferably through a peer reviewed publication & presentations)
Traditional approach to conducting research
Advisor Advisor
Graduate studentGraduate student
Instructions Results
Graduate student:1) learns techniques2) assimilates fundamental principles3) is not trained in scientific method.
Research project should train graduate in scientific method
Fundamental data and
relationships
Fundamental data and
relationships
Problem solving skillsProblem solving skills
Experimentation by scientific method
1)Thesis2)testable hypotheses
Experimentation by scientific method
1)Thesis2)testable hypotheses
Communication skills Helps to:
1) refine and2)test ideas
Communication skills Helps to:
1) refine and2)test ideas
Creative Process 1)Identification of new ideas
2)Development of ideas
Creative Process 1)Identification of new ideas
2)Development of ideas
Advisor/Guide
A variation of the scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication
An idea
Write proposal
Conduct research
Write papers& speak
new ideas
new ideas
Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method
Papers and presentations• Key step in scientific method• communication of results to peers – peer review to correct errors and teach– citation of papers measures true impact of research– invited lectures & seminars measure of impact
• Establishes credibility in scientific fields (improves chances for future funding)
• Develops career with editor positions, awards & recognition
Writing papers• Start early – use to help drive and correct your
research, identify missing pieces.• Identify appropriate journals for your research• Find citation impact of journals on web of science• Read instructions to authors and read papers in
targeted journal to see what experimental proofs are required
• Obtain template or copy format from recent paper.
Writing papers• Start early – use to help drive and correct your
research, identify missing pieces.• Identify appropriate journals for your research• Find citation impact of journals on web of science• Read instructions to authors and read papers in
targeted journal to see what experimental proofs are required
• Obtain template or copy format from recent paper.
Citation Impact Matters
Accounts Chemical research
CI: 22
ACS NanoCI: 11
Adv. Mater13.9 Angew. Chem
Int. Ed.13.5
Chem Rev. 41
Chem Comm.6
Chem Soc Rev26
Chem Asian J.6
J. Am. Chem. Soc.9.9
Nano Lett13.8
Nanoscale6
New J. Chem2.6
Nature Chem25
Small8.4
Writing the paper• Get experimentals done early-easy to follow
experimentals can be very good for your citation impact.
• Clear thesis and predictions or hypotheses in intro. • Be sure to cite first and most important precendents-
they will often be included in your reviewers.• Title must be very descriptive• Always have someone else proof your paper • Use grammarly.com for english editing.
Submitting the paper
• Always online• No errors – they can get your paper rejected• Consistent graphics• Carefully write the letter to the editor
explaining why this paper is worthy of his or her journal
• If you are rejected write the editor back and diplomatically argue the point.
Reviews & Rejections• You will have manuscripts rejected, don’t let it bother
you• You will get nasty reviews, don’t let it bother you• Do not be afraid to argue about rejection• If accepted with revisions, carefully make corrections
and list them in a letter to editor indicating how you met the reviewers required changes.
• If you disagree with a reviewer, explain to the editor why you think a change is not needed.
• If the editor still will not accept the paper, then submit to another journal on your list. Rewrite your letter to the editor.
A recent review of one of my papers• Reviewer(s)' Comments to Author:• Recommendation: Do not publish.• Comments: The authors report the syntheses of OBP and fluorescent OBP particles and use them to create non-
porous coatings on ceramic filters. The fluorescent particles were used to image the coatings to confirm that, with supports having small pores, well-defined coatings were obtained.
• Formation of spherical polysilsesquioxane nanoparticles, even under various conditions, does not carry novelty since the literature dealing with such processes is already abundant. Also, thin films formed from polysilsesquioxanes with various organic bridging units have been intensively studied and applied, particularly for low dielectric applications, over the past decade. It seems that significant investigation into possible applications for the coatings mentioned in this manuscript is imperative before the manuscript can be considered for publication in any scientific journal.
• Questions and Comments:• 1. The introduction mentions low-temperature sintering as one of the motivations for this study, and, later in the
manuscript, it is mentioned that no sintering was required for the coatings formed. Further elaboration regarding the sintering process and advantages/disadvantages of the membranes formed via sintering process is desired.
• 2. Please provide actual NMR spectra for the synthesized compounds.• 3. Page 4, line 25 to page 5, line 8: The synthetic methodology and NMR solvent are different from that found in
citation #31 and, therefore, the statement “spectroscopically the same as that reported in literature” should be omitted.
• 3. Page 8, line 20: The yield for the particle synthesis is given as 168% with no explanation given in this or later sections. Please provide a reason for this outcome.
• 4. Page 8: Please provide the correlation curve for the DLS measurements.
The scientific method based on proposal writing, research & publication
An idea
Write proposal
Conduct research
Write papers& speak
new ideas
new ideas
Proposal, research and paper writing search to support scientific method