TEAS Scientific Reasoning

What is empirical evidence?

- Information obtained through observation and experimentation that is observable and measurable

What is qualitative data?

- Descriptive data involving patterns, colors, textures, or behaviors — not numerical

What is quantitative data?

- Numerical data used to quantify and compare measurements like height, frequency, or quantities

What is an independent variable?

- The variable the researcher deliberately changes or manipulates

What is a dependent variable?

- The variable that is measured to show how it responds to changes in the independent variable

What is a controlled variable?

- Conditions kept the same throughout the experiment so they do not affect the results

What is a control group?

- The group that receives no treatment, used as a baseline for comparison

What is an experimental group?

- The group that receives the treatment being tested

What axis is the independent variable on?

- X axis

What axis is the dependent variable on?

- Y axis

Why a control group is necessary?

- serves as a baseline for comparison, allowing researchers to isolate the true effect of a treatment

What is a cause and effect chain?

- An effect from one event becomes the cause of the next — example: studying leads to high marks, which leads to a scholarship

What is reproducibility in science?

- The ability to repeat an experiment under the same conditions and get consistently similar results

Why is reproducibility important?

- It boosts confidence in findings and supports the generalizability of conclusions

What causes non-reproducible results?

- Overlooked variables, differences in conditions, or inaccurate measurements

What are the steps of the scientific method in order?

- Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Data Collection, Analysis, Conclusion, Communication

What is an observation in the scientific method?

- Information gathered through the five senses — smell, taste, touch, sight, hearing

What is the purpose of research in the scientific method?

- To answer preliminary questions, refine the experiment, and avoid repeating already-conducted studies

What makes a reliable research source?

- Scientific journals and accredited online databases — avoid unverified blogs and outdated textbooks

What is a hypothesis?

- A specific, testable, falsifiable prediction written as an if-then statement

What is the format of a hypothesis?

- If [independent variable], then [dependent variable] because [reasoning]

What makes a hypothesis valid?

- It must be testable and falsifiable — you must be able to design an experiment to test it

What is a hypothesis NOT?

- Not a fact, not a theory, not a conclusion — it is a prediction that can be supported or refuted

What happens when a hypothesis is not supported?

- It is revised and retested — the experiment is not considered a failure

What is a conclusion?

- The step where researchers interpret data, assess whether results support the hypothesis, and provide a clear answer to the research question

What does a valid conclusion require?

- It must be directly supported by the data and must not go beyond what was measured

Can one experiment prove a hypothesis?

- No — a single experiment supports or refutes a hypothesis but never proves it absolutely

What is the purpose of sharing results in science?

- To advance knowledge, receive feedback, and allow others to replicate and validate the experiment

What are peer-reviewed journals?

- Publications where scientists share findings that have been reviewed and validated by other experts in the field

What is repetition in the scientific method?

- Repeating experiments to verify that the same outcomes occur under the same conditions, ensuring reliability and accuracy

What is the placebo?

- A fake treatment given to the control group so participants cannot tell which group they are in

What is the placebo effect?

- When a participant's condition improves simply because they believe they received the real treatment

What is an experimental study?

- A study where the researcher manipulates variables in a controlled setting

What is an observational study?

- A study where the researcher observes subjects without interfering

What is a longitudinal study?

- A study that follows the same subjects over a long period of time

What is a cross-sectional study?

- A study that examines different subjects at one single point in time

What is a case study?

- An in-depth study of one individual or a small group

What is a double-blind study?

- A study where neither the participants nor the researchers know who receives the real treatment — eliminates bias

What is a single-blind study?

- A study where only the participants do not know which group they are in

What is correlation?

- When two variables tend to occur together or change together

What is causation?

- When one variable directly causes a change in another variable

Does correlation equal causation?

- No — two things can happen together without one causing the otherGive an example of correlation that is not causation - Ice cream sales and drowning rates both rise in summer — neither causes the other, both are caused by hot weather

What is sampling bias?

- When the sample studied does not accurately represent the broader population

What is confirmation bias?

- When a researcher favors results that support their hypothesis and ignores contradicting data

What is a confounding variable?

- An outside factor not controlled for that affects the results of the experiment

What is random error?

- Unpredictable variation in measurements that occurs by chance

What is systematic error?

- A consistent error in one direction caused by faulty equipment or flawed method

What is sample size and why does it matter?

- The number of subjects in a study — larger sample size produces more reliable and generalizable results

How can an experiment be improved? - Add a control group, increase sample size, make it double-blind, control confounding variables

What should a researcher do if results are non-reproducible?

- Re-examine the experimental setup, identify overlooked variables, and redesign the experiment

What is a scientific theory?

- A well-tested explanation for WHY something happens, supported by a large body of evidence from repeated experiments

What is a scientific law?

- Describes WHAT consistently happens in nature but does not explain why

Give an example of a scientific theory

- Cell theory, germ theory, theory of evolution

Give an example of a scientific law

- Law of gravity, law of conservation of mass

Does a theory become a law with more evidence?

- No — theories and laws are completely different things and one does not become the other

What is the difference between a theory and a guess?

- A scientific theory is backed by extensive evidence and repeated testing — it is not a guess