Outline
  • What is “The Scientific Method”?
  • What is the difference between 
   basic scientific research and clinical 
   research?
  • What is translational research?
  • What are the key basic scientific 
   questions remaining for HIV 
   researchers?
              The Basic Scientific Method
                                                     If…then…
    New Questions Arise
                          Question Identified
     Results Interpreted                      Hypotheses Formed
                            Share Your Data
                   Data Collected    Research Plan
         The Basic Scientific Method:
           Identifying the Problem
                           Question Identified
   • First, and arguably the most important, step
     –Several sources
        • Theoretical basis
        • Professional practice
        • Personal experience
        • Shear curiosity
     –Starts as a broad question that must be narrowed
     –Problem statement; experimental approach to the 
       problem; etc.
              The Basic Scientific Method:
                Formulating a Hypothesis
                                                     If…then…
                          Question Identified
                                              Hypotheses Formed
                 The Basic Scientific Method:                      If…then…
                    Formulating a Hypothesis
     • Hypothesis:
         –A belief or prediction of the eventual outcome of 
           the research
         –A concrete, specific statement about the 
           relationships between phenomena
         –Must be falsifiable
         –2 types of hypotheses:
             • Null hypothesis
                – All is equal; no differences exist
             • Alternative (research) hypothesis
                – Usually specific and opposite to the null