Lab 5: This is now an ALL ONLINE lab

The Pre-Lab & Protocol are combined into one activity.

Our lab time next week (the week of 2/22) will be used to complete Lab 4.
  • Introduction
  • Do you know enough?
  • Activity
  • LABridge
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How does science work? What is the role of peer review?

In Lab 1, we learned a bout the iterative process of scientific exploration, relying on past knowledge as ​a "jumping off point" for new research questions. This type of deductive reasoning requires a large body of scientific work to be made public and available, and that the work is both valid and reliable.
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​Watch the Ted Talk from Naomi Oreskes: Why we should trust scientists
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​Look over this document on the Peer Review process and how it helps make science work. ​​

Do you know enough to evaluate research done by your peers
​(or your own work)? ​

Now, not all types of scientific writing are peer-reviewed. Posters and presentations given at professional conferences are not. These types of scientific communication are often undertaken before the research is completely ready for peer review. Authors and researchers can display their work, and receive valuable feedback from colleagues, that greatly improves the chances of their research passing successfully through the peer review process once their ready for publication. 

​Technical reports are also rarely peer reviewed.  Often, reports like the one you've completed, are created for organizations (governmental or non-profit) and not the scientific community. Research represented in technical reports can be translated into peer review format assuming the methods are valid and reliable. In Lab 5, we will be applying the standards of critical peer review to your report. This will help you practice critical thinking, prepare you to dive into the scientific literature in Unit 2 and improve your overall ability to write in a scientific format. 
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​Read over the Critique Guide. You will use this to review YOUR OWN report.

Online-Only Activity (do before you complete the LABridge)

Instead of Peer Review, because of the snow and the resulting change in our lab schedule, this is our revised protocol:
Online Only Procedure​​
  1. ​Go back and Review Lab 1 for a refresher on the process of science. Review Lab 3 for details on your reports.
  2. Review the Critique Guide.
  3. Download the Diabetes Report Peer/Self Scoring Rubric.
  4. Read over your own Diabetes report. Be objective and as critical as possible.
  5. Record your review using the Scoring Rubric, using the Critique Guide.
  6. Once you have finished the Scoring Rubric, save the file, and send it to your partner.
  7. YOU WILL SUBMIT YOUR SCORING RUBRIC OF YOUR OWN REPORT IN THIS LABRIDGE!​
  8. Use your critique and your partner's critique to revise your report.
  9. OPTIONAL: Email your report to your TA for an optional review of this draft. You must submit it for this optional review no less than one week before your due date. It must be COMPLETE and your best effort or it will not be reviewed.
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​Your final report is due the week of March 1st. Think about emailing it early for a review by your TA (optional). Don't forget you also have BIOL 120 exam that week in lab!
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​Be sure you are in contact with your partner/group.
You should each critique your report separately and submit separate scoring rubrics. 
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​If you feel confident with this material, click the bridge icon and navigate to Blackboard to take the LABridge for Lab 5. 
​YOU WILL SUBMIT YOUR SCORING RUBRIC OF YOUR OWN REPORT IN THIS LABRIDGE! Be sure it is ready and you know where it has been saved.
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Click here to get to WKU's blackboard to take your LABridge for this week. Be sure your Notebook Entry from last lab is ready to submit!


​Lab 5 BIOL 120 CONNECTIONS
Section 1.6: Doing Biology
Big Picture 1: How to Think Like a Scientist
​BioSkill 16: Reading and Citing the Primary Literature

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The Department of Biology at WKU strives to create a dynamic, experiential learning environment, and to be a destination department for competitive undergraduate and graduate students, involving them in the process of science and preparing them for success in a global society. This website is intended solely for use of BIOL 121 students. The information here is copyrighted or within "Fair Use" under the scholarship or education exemption.