Interpret the Scientific Method and Pseudoscience

Research Skills in Your Life

Research skills

There are nine important research skills that are key to the scientific method.  

We will name each research skill and then provide an explanation and context for each. 

1 of 9 Critical Thinking. This skill is important in every step of the process and is at the heart of all of the skills that we will define.  Critical thinking is used to identify good questions; critically examine the existing information related to that question; construct a hypothesis that is consistent with the existing information related to that question; 

Design a study that accurately tests the hypothesis, manage and analyze the data carefully; draw conclusions based on the design and results of the study; identify limitations to the study, and communicate the results effectively.  

Critical Thinking is especially important for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the study.  For example, critical thinking is used when considering whether there are other explanations that might explain the results of the study. 

2 of 9 Problem Solving.   Problems often happen when conducting research, and creative thinking is necessary to solve the variety of problems that arise in all research.  

Perhaps your research question involves a population of people to which you don’t have easy access.  How do you find participants? Or maybe the best study to address your research question requires expensive equipment.  Can you overcome this barrier by finding someone to loan the equipment, or can you raise funds to purchase it? How you handle the problems that arise requires problem solving. 

3 of 9 Locating, organizing, and evaluating information from multiple sources. builds on existing knowledge.  Finding out what information is available to answer your question requires the ability to collect and analyze information from multiple sources.

Data Tracking.   As data is collected, it needs to be tracked.  In a straightforward research study, this is a simple task, but more complicated studies include much more data.  You need to develop a systematic way to store, organize and retrieve all the data.

5 of 9 Data Analysis. To draw the correct conclusions from the study results, you must be able to analyze the data carefully and this typically includes calculating statistics based on the data. Mean, median and mode scores on an exam would be an example of basic statistics.  A more complex statistical analysis is the t-test.

Research Skills in Your Life

Research Skills con’t.

6 of 9 Report Writing. Research reports typically follow a standard format that includes the following sections: Introduction, Methods, results, and discussion.  Strong writing skills are essential to communicate the necessary information clearly and concisely.  

7 of 9 Preparation and delivery of presentations. Researchers often present their findings to other researchers at conferences. Sometimes they also present their findings to non-researchers, such as a community council that seeks to make evidence-based decisions about a policy or a program.  

When preparing and delivering a presentation, you must tailor it to meet the specific needs of the audience.  Researchers in the same field may want to hear more details about the study. Community policy makers probably want a more concise summary of the main points. 

8 of 9 Application of Ethics. (This is the research skill that ensures a study meets ethical standards.  First and foremost, a study must not harm people or nonhuman participants. Some ethical dilemmas are easy to identify and manage, while others require more care.  

Regardless of whether you are a student, professor, professional researcher or professional in another field who happens to conduct research, as part of a job, you will need to consult other before you begin the research to ensure that the study will not inadvertently cause harm.  

9 of 9  Teamwork.  Research is not a solitary activity.  It usually involves quite a bit of teamwork, as most research studies are conducted in teams.  As part of a research team, you will need to collaborate with colleagues, classmates, professors or coworkers to designate responsibilities and ensure that each person does his or her part.  

When problems arise, you must work with your team to address them.  Teamwork requires the ability to work effectively with people who have different working styles or personalities.

Again, the nine key research skills are: 

Critical thinking; 

Problem Solving; 

Locating, organizing, and evaluating information from multiple sources;

Data Tracking;

Data Analysis;

Report Writing

Preparation and Delivery of presentations;

Application of Ethics; and

Teamwork.