ES 90 - Environmental Research Methods

ES-90 - ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH METHODS
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
Syllabus	Schedule	Assignments	Return to Index

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH METHOD

1.

Determine the topic to be researched.

2.

Identify the environmental indicators.

A.

Categories of indicators

Biodiversity, Energy Management, Sustainability

B.

"WASSEEM" categories

Water, Air, Soil, Species, Eco-Systems, Energy, Minerals

3.

Identify the laws, regulations, and agencies that will impact the topic.

4.

Research and compile data and information.

5.

Determine the way that you would become an advocate for the topic.

COMPONENTS IN THE SOLVING OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

1.

Scientific Assessment

The gathering of information: Data is collected, and experiments are performed to construct a model that describes the situation.

2.

Risk Analysis

Assess the possible outcomes of intervention: what are the pros and cons of actions to be taken.
Risk Assessment: Estimating the risks of certain actions taken.

3.

Public Education

Inform the public of the situation. explain the problem and present alternatives for action.

4.

Political Action

Public chooses a plan of action through the elected officials.

5.

Follow-Through

Results of any actions taken should be carefully monitored by all sides.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The scientific method is a well-defined series of principles and steps for the systematic pursuit of knowledge. The most important aspects of it are:

Its impostion of a strict and reproducible regimen on the investigative process.
The predictive power of the hypothesis, as tested and validated (or invalidated) by experimentation.

The steps consist of:

1.

Make an observation

This involves the gathering of information and data on a phenomenon or problem through careful observation

2.

Make a statement about that observation

A preliminary statement about the nature of the phenomenon is made.

3.

Hypothesis: Inductive reasoning

On the basis of the information that is gathered, a preliminary hypothesis is formed to account for the phenomenon or problem. This inductive reasoning process usually consists of us using our own knowledge and experience to make initial conclusions about what may be true.

4.

Go from the general to the specific: Deductive reasoning

If ... then .... The hypothesis is used to predict the nature or existence of other phenomena or to predict quantitatively the results of subsequent observations.

5.

Design an experiment

A.

We then create experiments and subsequent hypotheses to determining if the original hypothesis is valid.

B.

Requirements of an experiment

1)

Control group

2)

Test group

3)

Groups are formed randomly.

4)

Experiments must be repeatable.

6.

Analyze the results.

1)

If the conclusions drawn from the original hypothesis are validated by the experiments that we have devised, then the hypothesis may be regarded as a scientific theory or a law of nature.

2)

If the results of the experiments are not consistent with the hypothesis or additional information makes the hypothesis questionable, then the hypothesis must be modified or rejected in favor of a new one. This, in turn, may be subjected to further experiments.

.

1.	Determine the topic to be researched.
2.	Identify the environmental indicators.
	A.	Categories of indicators
			Biodiversity, Energy Management, Sustainability
	B.	"WASSEEM" categories
			Water, Air, Soil, Species, Eco-Systems, Energy, Minerals
3.	Identify the laws, regulations, and agencies that will impact the topic.
4.	Research and compile data and information.
5.	Determine the way that you would become an advocate for the topic.

1.	Scientific Assessment
		The gathering of information: Data is collected, and experiments are performed to construct a model that describes the situation.
2.	Risk Analysis
		Assess the possible outcomes of intervention: what are the pros and cons of actions to be taken. Risk Assessment: Estimating the risks of certain actions taken.
3.	Public Education
		Inform the public of the situation. explain the problem and present alternatives for action.
4.	Political Action
		Public chooses a plan of action through the elected officials.
5.	Follow-Through
		Results of any actions taken should be carefully monitored by all sides.

1.	Make an observation
		This involves the gathering of information and data on a phenomenon or problem through careful observation
2.	Make a statement about that observation
		A preliminary statement about the nature of the phenomenon is made.
3.	Hypothesis: Inductive reasoning
		On the basis of the information that is gathered, a preliminary hypothesis is formed to account for the phenomenon or problem. This inductive reasoning process usually consists of us using our own knowledge and experience to make initial conclusions about what may be true.
4.	Go from the general to the specific: Deductive reasoning
		If ... then .... The hypothesis is used to predict the nature or existence of other phenomena or to predict quantitatively the results of subsequent observations.
5.	Design an experiment
	A.	We then create experiments and subsequent hypotheses to determining if the original hypothesis is valid.
	B.	Requirements of an experiment
		1)	Control group
		2)	Test group
		3)	Groups are formed randomly.
		4)	Experiments must be repeatable.
6.	Analyze the results.
		1)	If the conclusions drawn from the original hypothesis are validated by the experiments that we have devised, then the hypothesis may be regarded as a scientific theory or a law of nature.
		2)	If the results of the experiments are not consistent with the hypothesis or additional information makes the hypothesis questionable, then the hypothesis must be modified or rejected in favor of a new one. This, in turn, may be subjected to further experiments.