Biology and the Scientific Method

Flashcards covering key concepts in biology and the scientific method.

What is biology?

The study of living things

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Make observation, Form a hypothesis, Test the hypothesis, Collect and interpret results, Form a conclusion

What is a hypothesis?

An educated guess not yet proven to be correct, a testable explanation for what was observed

What is a theory?

An explanation for something which has been tested several times by experts and proven to be correct each time, fully accepted by the scientific community

What is a principal/law?

Formed when a theory is seen to be true under all conditions over a long period of time.

Why should you use a large sample number when making a fair test?

Reduces risk of bias and jumping to conclusions

What are replicates?

Repeating the exact same experiment several times

What is double-blind testing?

Neither the tester nor the person being tested knows who is given the real pill or the placebo; prevents the tester interfering with the result

What is a placebo?

Harmless starch pill which is coded

What is bias?

When someone has a preferred outcome

What is a control?

An experiment set up as a comparison against the results of the main experiment

What is data?

The information gathered that’s relevant to the experiment

What is a factor?

Any variable that can be changed

What is an independent variable?

The factor that is changed in the experiment

What is a dependent variable?

The factor that depends on the independent variable (changes as a result of it)

List limitations of the scientific method

Human error, interpreting results incorrectly, level of our own basic knowledge, religious beliefs, personal involvement, accidental discoveries

Why do scientists publish their research?

To lead to new learning