Research Basics
What is the method used by scientists to answer questions about the world?
What is the scientific method?
When you don't understand something in lab, what is the recommended action?
What is ask your mentor or supervisor?
What section of a scientific paper provides a summary of the entire project, including results and conclusions?
What is the abstract?
In a scientific paper, where would you find details about how the experiment was conducted?
What is the Methods section?
What famous WWII project did Feynman contribute to?
What is the The Manhattan Project?
What presentation style is often used to summarize your research and communicate it at conferences?
What is a research poster?
Why is it important to keep a detailed lab notebook?
To document your work so it's reproducible and others can follow your process.
What does the term “elevator pitch” mean in scientific communication?
A short, clear summary of your research that you can explain in about 30-60 seconds.
What does the term peer-reviewed mean when describing a scientific paper?
What is the paper being evaluated by experts in the field before publication?
What phrase did Feynman use to describe research that looks scientific but lacks honesty and rigor?
What is "cargo cult science"?
In research, what is the difference between primary and secondary sources?
Primary sources present original research, while secondary sources summarize or analyze the research of others.
Name one example of unprofessional behavior in a research lab.
Possible answers: Showing up late, not wearing proper safety gear, ignoring instructions, etc.
True or False: Effective scientific communication means simplifying your work so much that important details are left out.
What is False?
You find a paper that looks relevant, but you can only access the abstract. What is one way to try to get the full paper?
What is check the university library, email the author, or ask your mentor?
Feynman warned that the easiest person to fool in science is who?
What is yourself?
True or False: It's okay to skip understanding background literature if your mentor already explained the project to you.
What is False? (Explain why)
True or False: It's acceptable to share lab results publicly (e.g., social media) without your mentor's approval.
What is False? (Explain Why)
Imagine you are presenting a research poster. Name three strategies to engage your audience effectively.
Make eye contact and smile
Use clear, simple language
Ask the audience questions
Walk them through the poster logically
Avoid reading text directly off the poster |
What online tool or database can you use to search for peer-reviewed scientific articles?
What is Google Scholar, PubMed, or a university library database?
Feynman’s legacy is complicated. What are the two ethical concerns people have raised about his behavior?
Mistreatment of women
Deceptive sexual behavior
Creating exclusionary professional environments
What term describes identifying gaps in existing knowledge to help you design a research project?
What is finding a research question or identifying a knowledge gap?
What is one thing you should always check before starting any experiment in the lab?
What is confirm you have the correct materials and understand the protocol?
You are explaining your research to someone outside your field. What is one thing you should avoid?
What is jargin?
When reading a scientific paper, what is one strategy to help you understand it if you feel overwhelmed? Give three examples.
Read the abstract and conclusion first
Look up unfamiliar terms
Discuss it with your mentor or peers
Break it into sections and read it over multiple sittings
What major scientific achievement earned Richard Feynman a Nobel Prize?
What is his work on quantum electrodynamics?