Ch1: Scientific Thinking

biology

Study of living things.

scientific thinking

intellectual activity that uses observation, description, and experimentation for understanding the world

science is an intellectual activity that helps us better understand our _______

world

scientific literacy

a general, fact based understanding of biology and other sciences

biological literacy

the ability to (1) use scientific inquiry to think creatively about real-world issues with a biological slant, (2) communicate these thoughts to others, (3) use this information to make decisions.

empirical

which means it is based on experience and observations that are rational, testable, and repeatable

self correcting

which means that as we make new observations, our thinking about how the world works may change

make observations

-element 1 in scientific method

-Scientific study always begins with observations, often of interesting patterns

formulate a hypothesis

-element 2 of scientific method

-must clearly establish an alternative explanation for a phenomenon AND generate testable predictions

null hypothesis

negative statements that state a lack of relationship between two factors

alternative hypothesis

an original hypothesis is rejected or disproven and a new hypothesis is needed

create a testable prediction

-element 3 of scientific method

-Goal: propose a situation that will give a particular outcome if your hypothesis is true, but a different outcome if your hypothesis is not true

-”If…then…”

conduct an experiment

-element 4 of scientific method

-this helps make it possible to decisively determine whether a particular hypothesis is better than an alternative hypothesis

draw conclusions and make revisions

-element 5 in scientific method

-Look for patterns and relationships in evidence

-Determine if findings and conclusions support a hypothesis

-If the result is not what you expected, that does not make it a “wrong answer”

Controlling variables means that we attempt to _______ any differences between a control group and an experimental group other than the treatment itself

minimize

treatment

an experimental condition applied to individuals

experimental group

group of individuals exposed to a particular treatment

control group

group of individuals who are treated same as experimental group, but they are not exposed to the treatment (might receive a placebo)

variables

characteristics of an experiment that are subject to change

independent variable

-variable that is measured and controlled in the experiment

-changed by the scientist

-scientist observes what happens

dependent variable

-variable that responds to the experiment

-is caused by and depends on independent variable

controlled variables

things a scientist wants to remain constant

placebo effect

highlights the need for comparison of treatment effects with an appropriate control group

blind experimental design

The experimental subjects do not know which treatment (if any) they are receiving

double-blind experimental design

Neither the experimental subjects nor the experimenter knows which treatment the subjects are receiving

randomized experimental design

Research participants are randomly assigned to the experimental or control groups

why repeating a study is important

-Increases confidence in results, if similar results occur

-Helps isolate variables responsible for outcomes of experiments, if the results vary

scientific theory

-An exceptionally well supported hypothesis

-Repeatedly tested

-Unlikely to be altered by any new evidence

-Broader in scope than hypotheses

statistics

set of analytical and mathematical tools that help us understand data

positive correlation

-when one variable increases, so does the other

-helps to reveal relationships, but correlation is not causation

pseudoscience

scientific sounding claims that are not supported by science

anecdotal evidence

making conclusions about relationships based on only one or few observations

superstitions

can grow from these

technology is an _________ of research

application