Introduction to Primary Research (Discoll)

        

       This article brought to my attention many things I did not know. Driscoll talks about how primary research is actually based of the scientific method, which is a theory of investigation. The scientific method varies from field to field and this method actually enables the researchers to learn more about the world and observable phenomena. Personally I didn’t think of the scientific method as relating to any other subject besides science. Here Driscoll talks about the use of the scientific method.  Specifically, with using the scientific method, researchers are then about to create research questions or hypotheses, collect data on events, objects, or even people that they find measurable, replicable, and observable. Driscoll states, “The ultimate goal in conducting primary research is to learn about something new that can be confirmed by others and to eliminate our own biases in the process.” (pg. 154).

       Driscoll gave some good pointers in regards to the final step in working with a hypothesis or research question. You have to determine what key terms you are going to use and you have to decide how you will use them.

       He continues to talk about observations and strongly notes that “Observations have lead to some of the most important scientific discoveries in human history” (pg. 160). Based off of my favorite, Charles Darwin, Driscoll uses this extraordinary figure as an example to his use of observations on the Galapagos Islands in order to help him form his theory of evolution, which he describes in his novel On the Origin of Species. Such good examples and information from this article I will find very useful throughout my writing in the future.