Diploma program 2012-2013
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Diploma program 2012-2013Gidon Winters, Ph.D.Moshav Idan Mobile:
054-4781700E-mail: [email protected]
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
1994-1998B.Sc. (Biology), Haifa University, Haifa,
Israel.Teachers certificate (sciences, high school), Haifa
University, Haifa, Israel.06-08/2000 Conservation Biology and
Policy, Duke Marine Lab, Duke University.1998-2000M.Sc. (Ecology
and Environmental quality), Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
The use of pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry in coral
photosynthesis research studying photosynthesis in corals and its
use in detecting early stages of stress.2002-2008Ph.D. (Plant
Sciences), Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Non intrusive
techniques for monitoring the physiology of coralsIntroduction
Gidon Winters:
Moshav IdanEducation:
Yair experimental stations
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Introduction Course goals, structure and project:1) Goals of the
course Understand fundamentals of experimental designs +
statistical proceduresConduct field-level Agricultural
ExperimentationWrite a scientific paper / report3
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Introduction Course goals, structure and project:2) Structure of
the course 4 lessons sessions (scientific methodology, experimental
designs, collecting data, statistical procedures, presenting
results, scientific writing) Reports there are several reports that
you will have to fill during the yearResearch notebooks Conducting
the research with team and supervisor. Project presentation +
ReportMethodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Introduction Course goals, structure and project:3) Course
project
During the year you will conduct an independent research project
in the field.The research project: Apply scientific methodology to
answer an agricultural problem/questionWorking with: The Israeli
farmerThe team (2 students)AICAT Supervisor GidonHave any of you
already thought of a project ? Met with project supervisor
?Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Do you earn a living as a farmer ? When planting season
approaches, how do you decide :What seeds to plant ?Where to plant
them ?How much to plant of each variant ? Decisions will determine
your productivity
Scientific methodology Methodology of scientific research in
Agriculture
To solve these problems, you usually follow a series of steps
that will lead you to the solutionThe scientific method is a
process that you can use to solve problems and determine answers to
questions in a logical formatWhat is Scientific methodology
?Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology an example
Nothing happensCant read because flashlight doesnt workWhat
happened the last time that Flashlight didnt work ?
Dead batteriesFlashlight doesnt work now because batteries are
dead again.Put new batteries
Identify a problem / make an observationMethodology of
scientific research in Agriculture
Research the problemFormulate a hypothesisConduct an
experimentReach a conclusionScientific methodology -
stepsFlashlight doesnt workThought back to the last time that the
flashlight didnt workHypothesis (educated guess) = we need new
batteries this time as wellExperiment = replace the batteries and
turn on flashlightFlashlight worked, so conclusion = indeed, we
needed new batteries.Methodology of scientific research in
Agriculture
Scientific methodology - Identify a problemIdentify a problem /
state a problem / make an observation:Identify a problem that you
are attempting to solve / purpose of the projectMy neighbours beans
are really green and mine are brown with spots on themThe peppers
growing in the edges of greenhouse 1 seem smaller than the rest of
the peppers in the green houseFocus the question, make your problem
specificIn what conditions should I grow my plants in my farmVery
general, impossible to know how to begin working on a
projectMethodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Identify a problem / state a problem / make an
observation:Scientific methodology - Identify a problem
Do bean plants grow better in sunlight, indirect sunlight or
shade ?More specific, narrowed it down to one type of plant, and
one factor of growth affecting them ?Methodology of scientific
research in Agriculture
Make sure the problem can be solved through controlled
experimentation
Narrowed the problem down to only one type of plant beans and
only one factor affecting its growth - lightControlled experiment =
testing a variable against a controlIdentify a problem / state a
problem / make an observation:Scientific methodology - Identify a
problemResearch the problem:Do this before your formulate your
hypothesisMethodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - Research the problemIdentify a problem:
Do bean plants grow better in sunlight, indirect sunlight or shade
?What types of beans are grown in your area ?How are beans in your
area usually grown ? What type and amount of irrigation are they
given ?Books, internet, supervisor and farmerResearch the
problemMethodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - HypothesisIdentify a problem: Do bean
plants grow better in sunlight, indirect sunlight or shade ?A
suggested solution to the problemMust be testableSometimes written
as IfThen statementsPredicts an outcome (what you think will happen
based on your knowledge)Doesnt include WHY you think you will get
certain results Should be in a statement form not a question
Formulate a HypothesisMethodology of scientific research in
Agriculture
Scientific methodology - Hypothesis
Beans plants will grow better in direct sunlight than in
indirect sunlight or shadeBeans plants will grow faster in direct
sunlight than in indirect sunlight or shadeWhat happens if the
results of the experiment prove the hypothesis wrong ?Nothing.
Hypothesis is not the answer to the problem just a statement about
your guess what we think will happenTesting your
hypothesis:Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisResearch the
problemIdentify a problem: Do bean plants grow better in sunlight,
indirect sunlight or shade ?Formulate a HypothesisConducting an
experiment = procedure to test the hypothesisAn experimenter
changes one factor and observes or measures what happens...when you
can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers,
you know something about it; but when you cannot express it in
numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it
may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely, in your
thoughts, advanced to the stage of science, whatever the matter may
be. Lecture on "Electrical Units of Measurement" (3 May 1883),
popular Lectures Vol. I, p. 73
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisConducting an
experiment = procedure to test the hypothesisWilliam Thomson
(18241907), 1st Baron Kelvin, often referred to simply as Lord
Kelvin, was a Scottish physicist.
In my neighbor's greenhouses, the tomato plants give much more
tomatoes per each plantIdentify a problem / make an
observationResearch the problemFormulate a hypothesisConduct an
experimentReach a conclusionI want to increase the amount of
tomatoes from each plantWill the use of fertilizers help me get
more tomatoes ? Are their any side affects of using more
fertilizers ? (diseases, promotes vegataitive growth)Using a
fertilizer will end in a bigger tomato plantplan the research
according to the assumption: 2 groups of tomato plants. 1 with
fertilizer and 1 without fertilizer.All other conditions (light,
water) are the same.Measuring the plants periodically (every
week)Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesis
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisThe experiment
will be designed around the hypothesisThe experiment will either
prove your hypothesis or disprove itImportant not to engineer the
experiment so will prove your hypothesis(e.g. Add fertilizer to the
beans growing under the sunlight, take out weeds in favourite
treatment...)Get the results- observations and measuring notebook
the opposite of forget is to write!) Testing your hypothesis =
Conducting an experiment Methodology of scientific research in
Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisMake sure you
have all the materials you will need to conduct the experiment
properly dont begin the experiment before you have
everythingPreparations:
like baking cake...
Variables used in an experiment can be divided into two
types:Dependent variable = The factor that is measured or observed,
the response variable.Independent variable" = The factor that is
changed, the manipulated variable that are tested to see if they
are the cause.Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisWhat do we
measure ?
Variable factor in the experiment that is being tested
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisExamples: 1)
Effects of vitamin C on life span Does taking vitamin C pills daily
make you live longer ?Methodology of scientific research in
Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisExamples: 1)
Effects of vitamin C on life span Will taking vitamin C pills daily
make you live longer ?Researchers dictate the vitamin C intake of a
group of people over time. One part of the group will be given
vitamin C pills daily. The other part of the group will be given a
placebo pill = CONTROL GROUP. Nobody in the group knows which part
they are in. The researchers will check the life span of the people
in both groups. The dependent variable = the life span (the
response variable, measured variable)The independent variable = the
vitamin C (the manipulated variable).
What is the Purpose of a Control?Controls are NOT being
testedControls are used for COMPARISONMethodology of scientific
research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesis
Valid ExperimentsTwo groups are required --- the control &
experimental groupsThere should be only one variableFor example,
suppose you want to figure out the fastest route to walk home from
school. You will try several different routes and time how long it
takes you to get home by each one. Since you are only interested in
finding a route that is fastest for you, you will do the walking
yourself.Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Examples of controls & variablesScientific methodology -
testing your hypothesis
What are the Variables in your experiment?Varying the route is
the independent variable The time it takes is the dependent
variable Keeping the same walker throughout makes the walker a
control variable. It is best to make several trials with each
independent variableMethodology of scientific research in
Agriculture
Examples of controls & variablesScientific methodology -
testing your hypothesis.DataResults of the experimentMay be
quantitative (numbers) or qualitativeMust be organizedCan be
organized into charts, tables, or graphs
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesis27ConclusionsThe
answer to the hypothesis based on the data obtained from the
experiment
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesis28RetestIn order
to verify the results, experiments must be retested.
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesis29
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisExamples: 2)
Effect of fertilizer on plant growth (height)Study measuring the
influence of different quantities of fertilizer on plant
growthMethodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisExamples: 2)
Effect of fertilizer on plant growth Measuring the influence of
different quantities of fertilizer on plant growth:The independent
variable = amount of fertilizer used. The dependent variables = the
growth in height and/or mass of the plant. The controlled variables
would be the type of plant, the type of fertilizer, the amount of
sunlight the plant gets, the size of the pots, etc all the same for
all treatments
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisExamples: 3)
Effect of drug dosage on symptom severity Study of how different
doses of a drug affect the severity of symptoms
A researcher compares the frequency and intensity of symptoms
when different doses are administered. The independent variable =
the doseThe dependent variable = the frequency/intensity of
symptoms.
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology - testing your hypothesisExamples: 3)
Effect of drug dosage on symptom severity Study of how different
doses of a drug affect the severity of symptoms
Phase 1: Identification of the problem (focusing on the main
issue)Phase 2: Phrase the survey, research question (be
specific!)Phase 3: Assume a legitimate assumption (prediction)Phase
4: Plan the research according to the assumptionPhase 5: Get the
resultsPhase 6: Find the correct conclusion (rule)Phase 7: Think
about a future research in order to reconfirm your conclusion
Suggestions for further study and research Methodology of
scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Scientific methodology Advantages:Ensures you work objectively
(do not use emotions, subjective feelings do cigarettes kill ?)
Ensures you stick to the facts (did the patient improve their
weight or not...)Ensures someone else can repeat the experiment
Date:Name of students:1. 2.Place of work:Name of farmerName of
Supervisor:Projects name:Key
words:______________________________________________________________________________________________Assumption:The
way to test the assumption (building the
experiment):_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Control:Repetitions:Expected
results and
reasoning:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Starting
building the projectMethodology of scientific research in
Agriculture
Date:Name of students:1. 2.Place of work:Name of farmerName of
Supervisor:Projects name:Activities for the weekResults and
comments:Problems/Questions:Ideas for improving the work:Bi weekly
ReportMethodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Observation: Men are usually heavier than women. But, What about
their Body Mass Index (BMI)?Background research - Weight for
height: Physical health can be measured through the appropriateness
of a person's weight to his heightBody Mass Index is an accurate
indicator of surplus body fat than kilos. It is a mathematical
ratio of height to weight that can be linked with body composition
(or body fat percentage) and with indices of health risk.
Calculating BMI is as follows: BMI = Weight (in kg)/Height(in
m)2Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Experimental design how much data to collect ?Methodology of
scientific research in Agriculture
How much data to collect: The more the better... More samples
means more time, more energy, and maybe higher costs... Very few
samples might not be representative enough...Rule of thumb: the
average of 30 samples is distributed normally, no matter what
distribution is the phenomenon. 5 How many samples ? 30Hypothesis:
Men have higher BMIs than womenExperimental design how to collect
the data ?Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Samples have to be chosen in a random waySamples have to be
measured in the same way
Weight for height: Methodology of scientific research in
Agriculture
Methodology of scientific research in Agriculture
Agricultural ExperimentationIn agriculture research a scientist
identifies solutions to problems through experimentation using the
scientific methodMethodology of scientific research in
Agriculture
Example:
Corn seedsExperimental design how do we collect data ?What is
the average weight and height of people in Vietnam ?Is the weight
for height different between men and women in Vietnam ?What is the
average weight and height of women vs. men in Vietnam ?Methodology
of scientific research in Agriculture
