song for theme #6: Scientific Method

                                                “Learn From Feedback, Mack” by Stephen P. Cook

to be sung to the tune of “Hit the Road, Jack” by Percy Mayfield / Ray Charles

This problem this problem, it won’t go away

But solving it without data, there’s no way

Once you’ve got data that’s good

Then you know what to do, you should

That’s right!

Use the Method, Mack

Learn from feedback¹, feedback, feedback, feedback,

Use the Method, Mack

Controls² good controls, investigations need these

No nonsense for data, you want it to please

Once you’ve got data that’s good

Then you know what to do, you should

That’s right!

Use the Method, Mack

Learn from feedback, feedback, feedback, feedback,

Use the Method, Mack

Hypothesis³ hypothesis, you gotta have one

Fit the data to it, that’s how it done

If you find your hypothesis no good

Then form another one, you should

Test it out, Scout

Remove doubt, don’t pout, don’t pout, don’t pout,

Test it out, Scout

Predictions good predictions, those you wanna make

If your hypothesis fits the data, it’s a piece of cake

If you think your hypothesis is good

Then you know what to do, you should

Test it out, Scout

Remove doubt, don’t pout, don’t pout, don’t pout,

Test it out, Scout

Problem solved not solved, before others get a look

Reproducible results—they make science cook

If others think your results are good

Then you know what to do, you should

Publish, help others learn, Mack

Learn more, learn more, learn more, learn more

Learn from feedback, Mack…

What’d you say?

Learn from feedback, Mack

I don’t understand

Learn from feedback, Mack

Now I’m getting it

Learn from feedback, Mack

SONG—NOTES / COMMENTS

1—Feedback in general refers to information about the state of a system (output) that is returned or fed back to the system input to adjust, regulate, or modify its behavior.  Scientists learn about systems they study via a feedback process. (See note 11 theme #5A)

2­—A control group refers to a group of subjects who do not receive the experimental treatment of interest. Results for this group

      will be compared with those for the experimental group, which were treated.

3—A hypothesis is an educated conjecture or statement offered as a tentative explanation of data relevant to the problem being

      considered.  It must testable—perhaps a mathematical relationship representing data or some other model is to be tested. 

Comment: Applying this theme to finding solutions to everyday problems associated with stress can be used in what’s called problem-focused coping, based on taking steps to remove, minimize or evade the stress.