Question

Rick is a biologist who hypothesized that squid would swim faster in warm water than in cold water. Rick conducted his experiment. He discovered that squid swim at the same rate in warm and cold temperatures. What should Rick do next?
A. Report his findings.

B. Throw away his experiment notes.

C. Report that squid swim faster in warm water.

D. Change his hypothesis.

Answer 1

Biologist is a scientist and should follow the scientific method - to investigate, report and analyse what he finds.  So the correct ans is A.

Answer 2

The most sensible answer is to:
A) Report his findings.

As a scientist it is his job to conduct experiments based on hypothesis or theories and from this experiments, give a detailed description, explanation, and conclusion about the experiment. This is the reason scientists and doctors write articles about their research, to make the public aware of such discoveries so that future researchers don't have to spend time valuable time and further studies can be based on such experimental report.

D) Would also be correct 'If' the scientist didn't find the expected answer to his hypothesis. This would cause the scientist to perform further experiments to find a reasonable justification and give a conclusion about it. If by the end of his studies, the research concludes that his hypothesis is incorrect, he must change his hypothesis based on scientific truth.

Both B) and C) are the least likely answers because:

B) is an immature action to take, showing the scientists lack of control. Throwing away experiment notes is not the wisest move to take as these notes not only provide valuable information about the experiment but can actually prove to be important data, that if analysed well it could show the scientist his mistake/error, a new unobseved pattern or give him a new hypothesis or idea. Thus proving to be very valuable.

C) As a scientist, it is his right to be a very genuine about his work as he is given a credibility by science. Lie is one of the greatest sin to a scientist as it causes his credibility to collapse and even lose his title as a scientist.