Step 1 of 4
Specificity is Key
Why starting narrow determines experimental success.
When starting out, it is tempting to ask massive questions like "how does climate change work?" or "how do cells die?". These questions are too broad.
To run a successful experiment, you must narrow your focus. A broad question makes it impossible to design experiments, control for confounders, or come to clear conclusions.
Compare these two:
- Vague: "How does climate change work?"
- Specific: "How do volatile organic compounds contribute to heat trapping over 24 hours in a sealed chamber?"
With the second, you can actually set up a physical chamber, buy or isolate volatile compounds, heat the system, and measure results!