scientific investigation

Knowledge

2022

We explain what scientific research is and what its elements are. Also, what types of scientific research exist.

Science aims to discover new knowledge.

What is scientific research?

Scientific research is a process of reflection, control and criticism that seeks to contribute new data, facts, relationships or laws in any area of ​​the scientific knowledge. The science use research to discover newknowledge and to reformulate the existing ones.

The persons who do this kind of research they are called scientists. Because they must have the necessary resources to support the investigation by theweather that this demands, many countries offer scholarships and incentives for scientific research.

Theethics Scientific is the set of ethical principles that underlie all inquiry intoscience. Generally contemplates not causing avoidable suffering toanimals experimentation and respecting the confidentiality of individual data.

See also:Non-experimental research

Elements of a scientific investigation

Scientific research is made up of three elements:

  • Object. That which is investigated, that is, the subject on which it is investigated. Like the knowledge that he hasman about the world is not complete, all research is historical and spatial.
  • Medium. Set of techniques that are suitable for conducting a certain investigation. The method most used in empirical sciences is the metear scientific which has steps in which a hypothesis to obtain accurate and useful information.
  • Purpose State the reasons why the investigation is launched.

On the other hand, we must remember that steps of the scientific method are:

Types of scientific research

Scientific research doesn't just happen within laboratories.

Research can be classified from different areas:

According to its purpose:

  • Pure research. Try to increase the theoretical knowledge of a subject.
  • Applied research. It aims to discover knowledge that has an immediate application to thereality.

Based on prior knowledge:

  • Exploratory investigation. Search oneview overview of a new topic of study.
  • Descriptive research. Seeks to publicize thestructure or the operation of any issue.
  • Explanatory research. Seeks to find the laws that determine certain behaviors.

According to data:

  • Quantitative investigation. Use data that can be expressed numerically.
  • Qualitative research. Use data that cannot be expressed numerically.

According to the means that have to investigate:

  • Documentary research. Analyze data obtained from different sources.
  • Field research. Collect the data from the place where the event occurs.
  • Experimental research. The researcher creates the conditions to establish the relationship cause effect of the phenomenon.

Importance and objectives of scientific research

Research is one of the fundamental pillars within the world of science, since it allows us to find the causes and characteristics of certain phenomena. Thanks to her we know more and better the human being and the environment that surrounds it.

Scientific research is responsible for the development and evolution of individuals and societies, it is through it that advances and discoveries are made in very varied fields such as medicine, psychology, the astronomy, the biology, among many other sciences. His objective The main thing is to acquire knowledge to predict and deal with problems that arise.

For these reasons, it is essential that research is encouraged and supported. Societies must become aware of the importance of observing, analyzing and studying data that can respond to and solve various problems, for example, those that affect physical and mental health, education or the lifestyle of individuals.

Stages of scientific investigation

Research results must be disclosed to build knowledge.
  • Raising the topic of interest. You must define the field of study in which you are interested in carrying out the research.
  • Identification of the problem. Within the chosen field of study, a question arises to be resolved.
  • Setting the objective and hypothesis. Through a hypothesis (possible answer to the problem) the objective pursued by the research is determined.
  • Definition of theoretical framework. All studies are investigated, theories or reports that exist on the topic of interest. It is important that the research provides new and useful information for the field of study.
  • Application of methodology. The techniques and the instruments to be used to carry out the investigation. In the case of the scientific method, an attempt is made to test the hypothesis through experimentation.
  • Drafting of the report. The results obtained provide information from which conclusions are drawn. The steps in the investigation process and the conclusions should be written down.
  • Disclosure of results. The conclusions obtained in the investigation are communicated to the scientific community or interested group.

Examples of scientific research

  1. Argentine National Registry of Cardiogenic Shock

Authors. Yanina B. Castillo Costa, Mauro J. García Aurelio, Víctor M. Mauro, Ricardo Villareal, Alfredo C. Piombo, Stella M. Macín, Francisco Mansilla, Rubén Kevorkian, Horacio M. Zylbersztejn, Juan A. Gagliardi.

Introduction. Cardiogenic shock is a serious complication of acute myocardial infarction and constitutes one of its main causes of death, despite which the information in our environment is limited.

Target. To know the clinical characteristics, treatment strategies and in-hospital evolution of cardiogenic shock in Argentina.

Material and methods. A prospective, multicenter registry of patients hospitalized with cardiogenic shock in the context of acute coronary syndromes with and without ST segment elevation was carried out between 2013 and 2015 in 64 centers in Argentina. Results: 165 patients were included, with a mean age of 66 (58-76.5) years; 65% were men. 75% of the cases had acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation. 8.5% were associated with mechanical complications and 6.7% with right ventricular involvement. 56% presented cardiogenic shock upon admission. 95% required inotropics, 78% mechanical ventilation, 44% Swan-Ganz catheter, and 37% intra-aortic balloon pump. 84% of ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (104/124 patients) were reperfused. The median time from the onset of symptoms to admission was 240 minutes (132-720). 80% received primary angioplasty. Overall in-hospital mortality was 54%, with no differences between acute coronary syndromes with or without ST-segment elevation. Likewise, there was no difference in the frequency of events and use of procedures between acute coronary syndromes with or without ST segment elevation.

Conclusions. The characteristics of cardiogenic shock in Argentina do not differ much from populations in other parts of the world. Morbidity and mortality is high despite the use of available treatment strategies.

  1. Causation of chronic kidney disease in the child population of the State of Aguas Calientes, Mexico.

Institution / Company. Autonomous University of Aguascalientes

Technical support. Dr. María Consolación Saldaña Martínez

Development area. Health

Specific demand that the project meets. Causation of chronic kidney disease in the child population of the state of Aguascalientes.

General objective. To determine the risk factors that increase the probability of chronic kidney disease occurring in the child population of the municipalities of the state of Aguascalientes with a high incidence of this public health problem.

Methods.

  1. Characterization of the quality of the drinking water supplied by the municipal network to the population of the municipality of Calvillo, Ags., And the possible presence of nephrotoxic metals in the soil and residential dust.
    B. Analysis in samples of water, soil and residential dust to demonstrate the existence of various nephrotoxic agents.

Conclusions.

-The exposure doses of fluorides and As in drinking water exceed the established DRf (27-90% and 7-49% of the population, respectively). This implies that the population of the municipality of Calvillo is severely exposed to fluorides, and, to a lesser extent, to As, the age group most affected is the child population (approximately 36.7% of the total population of the municipality).

-The danger index (HI) for joint exposure to As and fluorides exceeded the permissible value of 1, so there is a risk of causing damage to various organs due to the effect of exposure to these two pollutants.

-The high levels of blood lead found in some individuals in the study (Pb in blood> 10 μg / L) are not related to water, soil or dust as a source of exposure, but to other sources not studied in this project. Exposure to mercury and cadmium turned out to be low enough not to represent any toxicological evidence of their relationship with the high rate of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the study population. A high exposure to fluorides was observed, being significantly higher in the population affected by CKD. The average fluoride content in drinking water supply sources (2.1 mg / L) coincides with the level reported as a factor of kidney and liver damage (2 mg / L). Consequently, the consumption of water with a high content of fluorides has a special importance as a relevant factor in the high prevalence of CKD in the municipality of Calvillo.

-A probable correlation was observed between the joint presence of high exposures to fluorides, As, Pb with a high prevalence of CKD. In the El Chiquihuitero community, a high exposure to Fe and Mn was also noted. Consequently, the multifactorial origin in the prevalence of CKD becomes evident.

It is necessary to develop feasible and efficient strategies throughout the entire municipality of Calvillo to reduce exposure to pollutants such as fluorides and arsenic (especially fluorides), given the high concentrations found and the exposure doses they represent. According to the risk analysis, the intake of drinking water from the wells that supply the affected communities is the main source of exposure to the nephrotoxics studied (fluorides and As).

  1. Kidney and pancreatic lesions induced by Ipomoea carnea in goats

Authors. Rios, E .; Cholich, Luciana Andrea; Teibler, Gladys Pamela; Bogado, Facundo Ariel; Mussart, Norma Beatriz; Kidney and pancreatic lesions induced by Ipomoea carnea in goats; National University of the Northeast. Faculty of Veterinary Sciences; Veterinary Magazine; twenty; one; 7-2009; 45-49

Introduction. Pomoea carnea is a toxic plant due to the alkaloids swainsonine and calistegins, which causes economic losses in animal production in northeastern Argentina.

Target. The purpose of this study was to describe the microscopic lesions verified in the pancreas and kidney, as well as the changes in the renal biochemical profile caused by experimental poisoning with I. carnea in goats.

Methods. 9 goats fed with alfalfa were used; 4 of them acted as controls and the remaining 5 were subjected to the ingestion of leaves of I. carnea at a rate of 50 g / kg / day for 53 days, date on which they were sacrificed due to the serious deterioration of their health. Weekly clinical examinations and blood and urine samples were carried out. Urea and creatinine progressively increased their serum concentration in the intoxicated animals, who also revealed abnormalities in urinalysis. The most affected organs were the pancreas and the kidney. In addition to the cytoplasmic vacuolization described by other authors, the present study found the presence of intratubular eosinophilic content and widening of Bowman's space in the kidneys, damage that would explain the abnormalities detected in urine and blood. Such changes are useful when making the diagnosis of this intoxication.

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