BIOL 1050-Practice Quiz Ch1

Anecdotal evidence: A. is a more efficient method for understanding the world than the scientific method. B. can appear to reveal links between two phenomena that do not actually exist. C. is often the only way to prove important causal links between two phenomena. D. tends to be more reliable than data based on observations of large numbers of diverse individuals. E. is a necessary part of the scientific method.

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If your hypothesis is rejected, then: A. your experiment was a success. B. you should change the level of statistical significance until your hypothesis is accepted. C. you may still have learned something important about the system you were testing. D. your experiment was poorly designed. E. your experiment was a failure.

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Pseudoscience capitalizes on the belief shared by most people that: A. the scientific bases for scientific-sounding claims are often not clear. B. scientific thinking is a powerful method for learning about the world. C. scientific claims can be evaluated through the political process. D. science is intimidating.

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Science as a way of seeking principles of order differs from art, religion, and philosophy in that: A. science deals exclusively with known facts. B. science limits its search to the natural world of the physical universe. C. there is no room for intuition or guessing. D. science denies the existence of the supernatural.

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Which of the following questions would be LEAST helped by application of the scientific method? A. developing more effective high school curricula B. formulating public policy on euthanasia C. comparing the effectiveness of two potential antibiotics D. determining the most effective safety products for automobiles E. evaluating the relationship between violence in videogames and criminal behavior in teens

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Which of the following is an important feature of the scientific method? A. Anyone should be able to repeat an experiment. B. A researcher's methods should not be described once desired results have been obtained. C. A good hypothesis does not necessarily need to be tested. D. Once demonstrated, conclusions cannot be changed.

A. Anyone should be able to repeat an experiment.

What should you do when something you believe turns out to be wrong? A. change your mind B. blame the government C. feel ashamed D. hold to your beliefs

A. change your mind

Statistical methods make it possible to: A. determine how likely it is that certain results may have occurred by chance. B. unambiguously learn the truth. C. reject any hypothesis. D. test non-falsifiable hypotheses. E. choose the best answer to value-based questions.

A. determine how likely it is that certain results may have occurred by chance.

In a randomized, controlled, double-blind study: A. neither the experimenter nor the subject know whether the subject is in a control group or an experimental group. B. all experimental variables are held constant. C. experimental subjects are blind-folded when given the experimental treatment. D. individuals will be assigned to an experimental or control group depending on whether or not they took part in a pilot study.

A. neither the experimenter nor the subject know whether the subject is in a control group or an experimental group.

A _____________ is a pill that looks identical to a pill that contains the active ingredient in a scientific trial, but contains no active ingredient itself. A.placebo B.treatment C.capsule D.barbiturate E.tablet

A.placebo

Science is self-correcting. This means that: A.science actively seeks to disprove its own theories and hypotheses. B.when scientists make mistakes in their statistical analyses, their statistical software always catches those mistakes. C.science is incapable of producing mistaken beliefs if its studies are carefully done. D.scientists have impeccable manners. E.scientists correct their own biases before engaging in scientific study.

A.science actively seeks to disprove its own theories and hypotheses.

In a scientific experiment, a control group: A. is less important than an experimental group. B. can be compared with an experimental group to assess whether one particular variable is causing a change in the experimental group. C. must be kept in a laboratory. D. makes the experiment better, but is not essential. E. All of the above are correct.

B. can be compared with an experimental group to assess whether one particular variable is causing a change in the experimental group.

Thinking scientifically relies on which of the following? A. statements from authorities B. objective observation and experimentation C. applying your preconceptions D. learning a list of facts

B. objective observation and experimentation

If a researcher uses the same experimental setup as another study to collect data, but uses different research subjects, it is considered: A. inductive reasoning. B. replication. C. extrapolation. D. exploration.

B. replication.

Which of the following is the BEST description of a control group in an experiment? A.The control group and the test groups may have several differences between them. B.There should be more than one control group in any experiment. C.The control group is identical to each test group except for one variable. D.The control group is a test group which is chosen at random.

C. The control group is identical to each test group except for one variable

Some students on a biology field trip were sitting around watching honey bees. Some of the students noticed that bees spent more time on some flowers than on other flowers. As they talked about this behavior, the students offered various explanations. Some thought that the bees were avoiding predators on some flowers while other students suggested that some flowers may have sweeter nectar. These speculations about bee behavior are examples of A. data. B. bias. C. hypotheses. D. theories.

C. hypotheses.

A null hypothesis: A. is a hypothesis that the experimenter hopes will be falsified. B. results from an improperly controlled experiment. C. is the premise/idea that no difference exists between a treatment and control group. D. cannot be rejected.

C. is the premise/idea that no difference exists between a treatment and control group.

The set of analytical and mathematical tools designed to help researchers gain understanding from the data they gather is called: A. biology. B. genetics. C. statistics. D. geometry.

C. statistics.

Scientific study always begins with: A. hypotheses. B. conclusions. C. experiments. D. observations. E. predictions.

D. observations

"Engaging in aerobic activity three times each week will reduce cholesterol levels" is a: A.critical experiment. B.scientific control. C.control group. D.testable hypothesis.

D. testable hypothesis.

In science, theories tend to be ______________________ than hypotheses. A.more experimental B.less scientific C.more empirical D.broader in scope

D.broader in scope

Which of the following is NOT an example of a theory? A. Diseases are caused by germs. B. Molecules are composed of atoms. C. Organisms are composed of cells. D. Species evolve through natural selection. E. All of the above are considered to be theories.

E. All of the above are considered to be theories.

The scientific method will never prove or disprove: A. the existence of God. B. the beauty of Shakespeare's sonnets. C. the ability of echinacea to prevent the common cold. D. All of the above are examples of statements that the scientific method will never prove or disprove. E. Only a) and b) are examples of statements that the scientific method will never prove or disprove.

E. Only a) and b) are examples of statements that the scientific method will never prove or disprove.

You note a fuzzy growth on some of the gels in your incubator. What is the name given to this step of the scientific method?. A. law B. theory C. hypothesis D. confirmation E. observation

E. observation