biology 1.1 What is Science

Observing and asking Questions

Observation is the act of noticing and describing events in a careful orderly way. Questions that have never been asked before.

Scientific Method

Observations Hypothesis and inferences Experiments (controlled) Data (collection) conclusion

Controlling variables

Results would be unclear if more than one variable changed. An independent variable is deliberately changed, and a dependent variable changes as a result.

Science as a way of knowing

Science is an organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world. It also refers to the body of knowledge itself. Features that specify science include only dealing with the natural world, collecting and analyzing data, and explanations based on evidence, not belief.

What science is and what it is not

Science is not rigid; it is always changing and facts are open to testing, discussion, and revision.

Designing a controlled experiment

Testing a hypothesis with a controlled experiment with changing experiments. A controlled experiment is one where only one variable is changed

Goals of Science

Universe is composed of parts and processes that interact, and these interactions are governed by natural laws, as is everything. Greek philosophers aimed to explain the world in processes they could study.

Inferring and Forming a hypothesis

Use observations to make inferences, logical explanations based on previous knowledge. These lead to hypotheses, scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tested in ways that support or reject it.

Research tools

Used for collecting and analyzing data, such as calculators, and ananometers, and charts and graphs.

Science, Change, and Uncertainty

We know an enormous amount of scientific knowledge, but most still remains a mystery because science is always changing. Discoveries raise more questions than they answer, and science continues to advance. We have to understand both what we do and do not know bc science rarely proves anything.

Scientific Methodology: Heart of science

We use scientific thinking in everyday life. It is a general style of investigation.

Experiments are not possible

ex. animal behavior ex. (ethical) exposure to drugs or chemicals

Control and Experimental Groups

A control group is exposed to same conditions as the experimental group except for one variable.

Collecting and Analyzing Data

Data is detailed records of experimental observations. Quantitative data record numeric data and qualitative data records physical attributes.

Sources of error

avoid errors in data collection and analysis. Tools have limited accuracy. avois variation

Drawing conclusions

use data to support, refute or refine. continuation of the method