Week 1

How does a scientific theory differ from the popular use of the term as in: "just a theory"?

. A scientific theory differs from the popular use of the term as in "just a theory" because scientific theories have been studied and shown to be true many times by many different people making them very well supported, where as a theory is not as accepted to be true because it has not been through as many experimentations and people studying it.

falsifiable

A hypothesis must be testable and ____________--there must be some observation or experiment that could show that it is not true.

What does it mean for a hypothesis to be testable?

For a hypothesis to be testable it must be able to make predictions (using deductive reasoning) of what would observe if true.

scientific inquiry

Scientists use a general process known as __________ to ask and answer questions about nature.

inductive reasoning

Using a type of logic known as _____________, a generalized conclusion can often be drawn from a large number of specific observations.

deductive reasoning

______________ uses ''if . . . then'' logic to proceed from a general hypothesis to specific predictions of results that can be expected if the general premise is true.

discovery science

based on observation

hypothesis driven science

based on testing/experimentation

______________________ uses ''if . . . then'' logic to proceed from a general hypothesis to specific predictions of results that can be expected if the general premise is true.

deductive reasoning

What is the dependent variable?

depends on other factors or is the variable that is being tested and measured in a scientific experiment

Scientists use inductive reasoning to make ______________.

generalizations

scientific theory

larger than a hypothesis and is supported by a large and usually growing body of evidence

order of scientific method

observation, question, hypothesis, prediction, experiment

Direct observations

observing behavior as it occurs

controlled experiment

one that is designed to compare an experimental group with a control group

What is a systematic observation?

predicts what will be seen if you make more observations, rather than actually making those observations

Scientists use a general process known as ___________________ to ask and answer questions about nature.

scientific inquiry

Why are statistics used?

to reduce the number of times errors are made in interpreting results: saying a variable has an effect when it really doesn't and vice versa

What is a control?

when everything is the same except one variable, a group that varies from the experimental group only in the variable that is of interest.

Indirect observations

when the researcher observes the effects of results of the behavior rather than the behavior itself.

How does a scientific investigation usually start?

A scientific investigation usually starts through observation and asking questions: with enough observations, we make hypotheses about it, to answer our questions.

A(n) ___________________________ involves both an experimental group and a control group, which are alike except for the one variable that the experiment is designed to test.

controlled experiment

theory

A(n) __________ is broader in scope than a hypothesis, is supported by a large body of evidence, and generates many new hypotheses.

hypothesis

A(n) ____________ is a proposed explanation for a set of observations. It leads to predictions that can be tested by additional observations or by experiments.

controlled experiment

A(n) __________________ involves both an experimental group and a control group, which are alike except for the one variable that the experiment is designed to test.

Local farmers think that a commonly used pesticide is responsible for the increase in appearance of frogs with an additional appendage. To test this hypothesis, frogs are injected with a small amount of pesticide mixed in ethanol. The frogs are allowed to produce offspring to test the effect of the pesticide. Which of the following would be the best controlled experiment? A. One group is injected with pesticide. B. One group is injected with ethanol, one group is injected with pesticide, and one group is not injected with anything. C. One group is injected with ethanol, and one group is injected with pesticide. D. One group is injected with pesticide, and one group is not injected with anything.

B. One group is injected with ethanol, one group is injected with pesticide, and one group is not injected with anything.

A scientist performs a controlled experiment. This means that A. the experiment is repeated many times to ensure that the results are accurate. B. two versions of the experiment are conducted, one differing from the other by only a single variable. C. the experiment proceeds at a slow pace to guarantee that the scientist can carefully observe all reactions and process all experimental data. D. one experiment is performed, but the scientist controls the variables.

B. two versions of the experiment are conducted, one differing from the other by only a single variable.

Which of the following lists the steps of the scientific method in their proper order? A. observation, question, hypothesis, experiment, prediction B. question, observation, hypothesis, prediction, experiment C. observation, question, hypothesis, prediction, experiment D. observation, question, prediction, hypothesis, experiment

C. observation, question, hypothesis, prediction, experiment

Which of the following is an example of inductive reasoning? A. Researchers conduct a study to determine the efficacy of a weight-loss drug. B. You hypothesize that your car battery is dead after it does not start one morning. C. After microscopic examination, a pathologist orders follow-up biochemical tests to determine whether a large mass found in the intestine is a tumor. D. Through years of field observations, researchers have determined that introduction of a new female changes the behavior of a male gorilla.

D. Through years of field observations, researchers have determined that introduction of a new female changes the behavior of a male gorilla.

Distinguish between results, conclusions, and communication.

Results: what the test shows Conclusions: stating that the results support hypothesis or not but don't "prove" the hypothesis Communicate: through peer-reviewed journals and combines results to understand system better

What is the relationship between science and morality?

Science and morality are often separated because science cannot determine what is moral, though can find out what people view as moral. But science can help people/societies make moral decisions.

What are the data of science?

The data of science is recorded observations.

What are differences between a hypothesis and a prediction?

The difference between a hypothesis and a prediction is that a hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a set of observations; it leads to predictions that can be tested by additional observations or by experiments. A prediction is a guess of what might happen based on your observation/hypothesis.

What is the difference between qualitative data and quantitative data?

The difference between qualitative data and quantitative data is that qualitative data is descriptive, data, documented in field notes, photographs, and videos. Where as quantitative data is numerical measurements that may be organized into tables and graphs.

What is the difference between reductionism and systems thinking?

The difference between reductionism and systems thinking is that reductionism is understand a part and is demonstrated through controlled experiments (artificial conditions where control for all but one variable), where as systems thinking is a understand a whole and is demonstrated through models (ways of representing and/or testing how parts influence one another in the whole).

What are three characteristics of a scientific theory?

The three characteristics of a scientific theory are they can explain a wide variety of observations, generates many hypotheses that can be tested, and scientific theories are supported by a great deal of evidence.

hypothesis

a proposed explanation for a set of observations

What is a model?

a way of representing and/or testing how parts influence one another in the whole

What is sampling error?

difference between results obtained from testing a subset of a group, and results rom testing the whole groups: the larger the samples and the amount of times it is repeated helps to minimize this

A hypothesis must be testable and ________________--there must be some observation or experiment that could show that it is not true.

falsifiable

A(n) ___________________ is a proposed explanation for a set of observations. It leads to predictions that can be tested by additional observations or by experiments.

hypothesis

Using a type of logic known as _________________________, a generalized conclusion can often be drawn from a large number of specific observations.

inductive reasoning

What is a controlled experiment?

involves both an experimental group and a control group, which are alike except for the one variable that the experiment is designed to test

Scientists use deductive reasoning to make _____________________.

specific predictions.

What are two types of tests?

systematic observations and controlled experiments

What is an independent variable?

the variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables you are trying to measure

A(n) ___________________ is broader in scope than a hypothesis, is supported by a large body of evidence, and generates many new hypotheses.

theory