scientific problem

• The Scientific Problem
• Scientific research


  A systematic and well-organized body of knowledge that is formed through a series of inquiries that utilize the scientific method
• Research problem


  A question or issue observed in your surroundings that need to be addressed to look for a solution
• Characteristics of a good research problem

  • Researchability
  • Significance
  • Originality
  • Feasibility
  • Specificity
  • Ethical
• Research problems in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

  • How many trees are there on the planet?
  • The use of Aloe vera
• Dr. Harold Shipman, a family doctor, murdered over 215 mostly elderly patients by injecting them with massive opiate overdose (lethal doses of diamorphine) at their home
• Shipman was caught after forging one of his victims' will where the daughter is a solicitor
• Shipman was tried and convicted for 15 murders in 1999, imprisoned for life, and committed suicide inside
• Shipman's record in the computer shows pattern of the data with falsified reports of 'death by natural causes'
• The Shipman story demonstrates a potential for using data to understand the world
• Scientific knowledge


  A generalized body of principles that try to explain events that happen in one's surroundings
• Theories


  Systematic explanations of the underlying phenomenon or behavior that remain to be validated
• Laws


  Validated body of knowledge regarding observed patterns of phenomena and behaviors
• Steps in scientific research

  1. Observing and identifying the research problem

  2. Formulating a hypothesis

  3. Collection of data

  4. Analysis and interpretation of data

  5. Drawing conclusions and recommendations

  6. Sharing your research output
• The problem is definitions are not constant, and so are literature and studies
• Even personal feelings such as 'happiness' can be difficult to define
• The definition of 'unemployment' has changed 31 times from 1979 to 1996 in the United Kingdom
• The definition of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) changed in 2014 to include trade of illegal drugs and prostitution as valuable goods and services
• Problem statement

  The general overview or scope and purpose of the study
• Research objectives


  The specific parts of the general problem that may be a statement, question or hypothesis
• Aloe vera has potent antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties due to its in vitro inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Bacillus subtilis
• Aloe vera has better antimicrobial efficacy compared to sodium hypochlorite against E. coli, E. faecalis, and Staph. aureus
• Dr. Shipman, Britain's most prolific serial killer, committed suicide in prison
• Shipman's victims died suddenly, and he was the one who signed the death certificates, declaring that they died of natural causes, and convincing families there was no need for an autopsy