Unit 2 Objectives: Scientific Method

describe why a good hypothesis is not simply a guess.

A hypothesis is an educated guess, and a guess has no previous knowledge about it. A hypothesis is usually part of a scientific experiment which involves a method for testing the hypothesis, and either supporting it, or supporting the opposite, the null hypothesis.

Differentiate between science and pseudoscience.

A science is a body of hypothesis based upon observation and experiment. A pseudoscience is a body of hypotheses treated at true, but without a consistent body of supporting experimental evidence.

Define the parts of a controlled experiment.

A variable is an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category you are trying to measure. There are two types of variables-independent and dependent.

Explain each of the steps of the scientific method.

The steps of the scientific method are to: Ask a Question Do Background Research Construct a Hypothesis Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion Communicate Your Results

describe how scientists study subjects in which experiments are not possible.

To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning.

Compare the use of the scientific method and the environmental decision making model.

the scientific method-is more of testing your decision environmental decision making model-is more of considering values than making the decision

describe the two essential parts of a good experiment.

treatment, and control

Identify the variable, control group, and experimental group in a given experiment.

variable-independent(changes), dependent(measurement), and controlled(stays the same). control group-is exposed to all of the circumstances of the experiment but does not get whatever is being tested or changed in the experiment. experimental group-receives the variable being tested.