Applications of the Scientific Method

The scientific method is useful in problem solving and decision-making in a wide variety of fields. In this assignment, you will demonstrate how to use the scientific method to make decisions and solve problems in your field of study or everyday life.

Identify a specific problem often faced in your field of study or everyday life. Research your problem and assess your data / research. Examples of such problems could be:

1. Business
   1. Developing a new product that is superior to competitor’s brands; or
   2. Establishing a price for a new product using the law of supply and demand;
2. Information Systems and Technology
   1. The use of personal electronic devices for work purpose, or
   2. Determining in the most cost-effective computer for your business;
3. Criminal Justice
   1. The reliability of eyewitness testimony, or
   2. Determining what evidence reveals to you about a crime;
4. Everyday Life
   1. Selecting a particular brand of detergent, or
   2. Determining the most cost-efficient transportation / route for your commute.

Write a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you:

1. Explain the scientific method and describe the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.
2. Propose one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem you have selected. State the expected outcomes of your actions and include criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed. Note: Your hypothesis should be stated very precisely.
3. Describe the main actions that you intend to put into place to test the hypothesis that you proposed in Question 2. Describe the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Include the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.
4. Discuss the wisdom behind the strategy you would use to test the hypothesis from Question 3, and describe the additional steps you might take, depending on the results of your test. Note: These additional steps might be to revise your original hypothesis (if the results were unsatisfactory) or to propose new hypotheses. The goal is to continuously improve your understanding of the factors influencing your outcomes, to be able to achieve greater results over time. 
5. Use at least two (2) quality resources / references in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and personal blogs do not qualify as quality resources.

Your report must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Apply concepts in physical sciences to evaluate current trends and issues in the modern world.
• Describe the physical processes influencing climate and weather.  
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in physical sciences.
• Write clearly and concisely about physical sciences using proper writing mechanics.

• Criteria

   

  Unacceptable

  Below 60% F

  Meets Minimum Expectations

  60-69% D

  Fair

  70-79% C

  Proficient

  80-89% B

  Exemplary

  90-100% A

  1. Explain the scientific method and describe the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.

  Weight: 20%

  Did not submit or incompletely explained the scientific method and did not submit or incompletely described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.

  Insufficiently explained the scientific method and insufficiently described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.

  Partially explained the scientific method and partially described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.

  Satisfactorily explained the scientific method and satisfactorily described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.

  Thoroughly explained the scientific method and thoroughly described the overall manner in which you would apply it in your field of study or everyday life.

  2. Propose one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem you have selected. State the expected outcomes of your actions and include criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed. Weight: 20%

  Did not submit or incompletely proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem you have selected. Did not submit or incompletely stated the expected outcomes of your actions and did not submit or incompletely included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.

  Insufficiently proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem you have selected. Insufficiently stated the expected outcomes of your actions and insufficiently included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.

  Partially proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem you have selected. Partially stated the expected outcomes of your actions and partially   included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.

  Satisfactorily proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem you have selected. Satisfactorily stated the expected outcomes of your actions and satisfactorily included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.

  Thoroughly proposed one (1) testable hypothesis to explain / solve the problem you have selected. Thoroughly stated the expected outcomes of your actions and thoroughly included criteria for determining whether or not these actions would succeed.

  3. Describe the main actions that you intend to put into place to test the hypothesis that you proposed in Question 2. Describe the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Include the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.

  Weight: 25%

  Did not submit or incompletely described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that you proposed in Question 2. Did not submit or incompletely described the way in which you would evaluate the success of you program. Did not submit or incompletely included the results that you would deem as e a success and the results that would be considered a failure.

  Insufficiently described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that was proposed in Question 2. Insufficiently described the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Insufficiently included the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.

  Partially described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that was proposed in Question 2. Partially described the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Partially included the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.

  Satisfactorily described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that was proposed in Question 2. Satisfactorily described the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Satisfactorily included the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.

  Thoroughly described the main actions that you intended to put into place to test the hypothesis that was proposed in Question 2. Thoroughly described the way in which you would evaluate the success of your program. Thoroughly included the results that you would deem as a success and the results that would be considered a failure.

  4. Discuss the wisdom behind the strategy you would use to test the hypothesis from Question 3, and describe the additional steps you might take depending on the results of your test. Weight: 10%

  Did not submit or incompletely discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you would use to test the hypothesis from Question 3, and did not submit or incompletely described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.

  Insufficiently discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you would use to test the hypothesis from Question 3, and insufficiently described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.

  Partially discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you would use to test the hypothesis from Question 3, and partially described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.

  Satisfactorily discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you would use to test the hypothesis from Question 3, and satisfactorily described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.

  Thoroughly discussed the wisdom behind the strategy you would use to test the hypothesis from Question 3, and thoroughly described the additional steps you might take depending on the results of their test.

  5. Writing / Support for ideas

  Weight: 5%

  Never uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

  Rarely uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

  Partially uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

  Mostly uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

  Consistently uses reasons and evidence that logically support ideas. 

  6. Writing / Grammar and mechanics

  5%

  Serious and persistent errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

  Numerous errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

  Partially free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

  Mostly free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

  Free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

  7. Writing and Information Literacy / Integration of Sources

  Weight: 5%

  Serious errors in the integration of sources, such as intentional or accidental plagiarism or failure to use in-text citations.

  Sources are rarely integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations.

  Sources are partially integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations.

  Sources are mostly integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations.

  Sources are consistently integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, using in-text citations.

  8. Information Literacy / Crediting Sources in APA

  Weight: 5%

  Lack of citations and / or lack of reference section and / or citations don’t correspond to listed references. Major other APA formatting issues.

  In-text citations and references are given, but not in APA format. Several other APA formatting issues.

  Partially shows correct (or approximately correct) use of in-text citations, with matching references using APA format. Some other APA formatting issues.

  Mostly shows correct use of in-text citations with matching references using APA format. Mostly no other APA formatting issues.

  Consistently shows correct use of In-text citations with matching references using APA format. No major other APA formatting issues.

  9. Information Literacy / Research

  Weight: 5%

  Quantity and / or quality of sources are unacceptable.

  Too few references and / or references are of poor quality.

  Number of sources is less than expected (< 2) and / or the quality of sources is questionable. 

  Number of sources is sufficient (at least 2) and the quality of sources is mostly good. 

  Number of sources is sufficient (at least 2) and the quality of sources is good.