Chapter 1.1: What is Science?

controlled experiment

a type of experiment where only 1 variable is changed, but all the other variables should be kept unchanged, or controlled

observation

the act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way

What does scientific methodology involve?

Scientific methodology involves observing and asking questions, making inferences and forming hypotheses, conducting controlled experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.

inference

a logical interpretation based on what scientists already know

Why are hypotheses so important to controlled experiments?

A hypothesis is important to controlled experiments because you change the independent variables to prove it right or wrong.

What kinds of understanding does science contribute to the natural world?

From science, you can understand how everything works and operates, and why everything is the way it is.

Do you think that scientists will ever run out of living things to study? Explain your reasoning.

Scientists will probably run out of living things to study because eventually, with modern technology, we can figure out answers for all our questions.

What are the goals of science?

1 goal of science is to provide natural explanations for events in the natural world. Science also aims to use those explanations to understand patterns in nature and to make useful predictions about natural events.

hypothesis

a scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tested in ways that support or reject it

independent variable

also called the manipulated variable, this variable is deliberately changed

dependent variable

also called the responding variable, this variable is the 1 that is observed and changes in response to the independent variable

science

an organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world

control group

is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group except for 1 independent variable