2.3 Lab Activity: Scientific Literature
2.3.1 Instructions
Follow your instructor’s instructions and answer the following questions with your group. In your responses, properly paraphrase (do not copy/paste or inappropriately paraphrase). To receive credit, you must use your own words and sentence structure. Using the same sentence structure (and changing a few words only) is considered plagiarism.
Link to Musselman et al. 2011. You can also download a pdf from the website.
2.3.2 Part 1. Overview of the paper
Determine the main objectives and purpose of the paper. Re-read the Abstract (or Summary) and the introduction with your group.
| 1. What is the purpose of the study? |
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| 2. What is the hypothesis? |
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| 3. Describe the knowledge gap. In essence, what did the scientific community not know that this study was trying to answer? |
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2.3.3 Part 2. Figure Analysis - Methods and Findings
Methods. How did the researchers test their hypothesis? Explain in your own words the methods in each figure.
| Figure | Methods |
|---|---|
| Fig. 1A-F | |
| Fig. 2A-D | |
| Fig. 2E-2I | |
| Fig. 3A-E | |
| Fig. 4A-B |
Results. What are the main findings from each figure?
| Figure | Main Findings |
|---|---|
| Fig. 1A-F | |
| Fig. 2A-D | |
| Fig. 2E-2I | |
| Fig. 3A-E | |
| Fig. 4A-B |
2.3.4 Part 3. Your Conclusions
| 1. Work with your group and write 3-4 sentences summarizing the main findings/conclusions of the paper based one what you came up with in Part 3. |
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| 2. Talk with your group and come up with a list of 2-3 limitations. |
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2.3.6 Part 5. The Future
| 1. Scientific work builds on previous studies. What do you believe could be the next step to further the work these researchers did? |
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| 2. Do you believe further research in this area may benefit society? Can we build on what this study found? |
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2.3.7 Footnotes
2.3.7.1 Resources
2.3.7.2 Contributions and Affiliations
- Stephanie Coffman, Clovis Community College
Last Revised: February 15, 2022