RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Paper Code: 
BTE 226
Credits: 
2
Contact Hours: 
30
Objective: 

The objectives of this course are to give background on history of science, emphasizing methodologies used to do research, use framework of these methodologies for understanding effective lab practices and scientific communication and appreciate scientific ethics.

4.00
Unit I: 
History of science and science methodologies

Empirical science; scientific method; manipulative experiments and controls; deductive and inductive reasoning; descriptive science; reductionist vs holistic biology

2.00
Unit II: 
Preparation for research

Choosing a mentor, lab and research question; maintaining a lab notebook.

7.00
Unit III: 
Process of communication I

Concept of effective communication- setting clear goals for communication; determining outcomes and results; initiating communication; avoiding breakdowns while communicating; creating value in conversation; barriers to effective communication; non-verbal communication-interpreting non-verbal cues; importance of body language, power of effective listening; recognizing cultural differences.

7.00
Unit IV: 
Process of communication II

Presentation skills - formal presentation skills; preparing and presenting using over-head projector, PowerPoint; defending interrogation; scientific poster preparation & presentation; participating in group discussions; Computing skills for scientific research - web browsing for information search; search engines and their mechanism of searching; hidden Web and its importance in scientific research; internet as a medium of interaction between scientists; effective email strategy using the right tone and conciseness.

10.00
Unit V: 
Scientific communication

Technical writing skills - types of reports; layout of a formal report; scientific writing skills - importance of communicating science; problems while writing a scientific document; plagiarism, software for plagiarism; scientific publication writing: elements of a scientific paper including abstract, introduction, materials & methods, results, discussion, references; drafting titles and framing abstracts; publishing scientific papers - peer review process and problems, recent developments such as open access and nonblind review; plagiarism; characteristics of effective technical communication; scientific presentations; ethical issues; scientific misconduct.

ESSENTIAL READINGS: 

• Valiela, I. (2001). Doing Science: Design, Analysis, and Communication of Scientific Research. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• On Being a Scientist: a Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research. (2009). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
• Gopen, G. D., & Smith, J. A. The Science of Scientific Writing. American Scientist, 78 (Nov-Dec 1990), 550-558.
• Mohan, K., & Singh, N. P. (2010). Speaking English Effectively. Delhi: Macmillan India. 5.

REFERENCES: 

• Research & Publication Ethics: A Complete Guide to Conducting & Publishing Research Ethically The Enago Academy Team Website: https://www.enago.com/academy/
• Manual for Research and Publication Ethics in Science and Engineering / Eun Seong Hwang, Eun Hee Cho, Young-Mog Kim, Kibeom Park, Wha-Chul Son, Tae-Woong Yoon, Jeong Mook Lim [Authors]. -- Seoul: Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies, 2016
• Science Communication: A Practical Guide for Scientists (2012) Laura Bowater, Kay Yeoman, Wiley-Blackwell
• National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy. On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research: Third Edition. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2009. RESEARCH MISCONDUCT. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK214564/

Academic Year: 
2023-2024
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