Scientific Method Lecture Study Guide

These flashcards cover essential concepts and questions related to the Scientific Method, including characteristics of life, key experimental design features, and common misconceptions.

What are the key characteristics that define something as alive?

Key characteristics include reproduction, metabolism, homeostasis, response to stimuli, growth, and adaptation.

What are the basic steps of the scientific method?

The basic steps include making observations, forming a hypothesis, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.

What features must a scientifically useful hypothesis possess?

A useful hypothesis should be testable, falsifiable, and based on prior knowledge or observations.

How similar should the control and experimental groups be in a scientifically designed experiment?

The control and experimental groups should be as similar as possible to isolate the effect of the independent variable.

Why do scientists commonly repeat the same experiment?

Repeating experiments helps to verify results, ensures reliability, and accounts for variability.

Why is it important for a scientist to be unaware of the group assignments in an experiment?

It reduces bias in the evaluation of results, ensuring that personal beliefs do not influence outcomes.

What is a hypothesis related to attending class and biology performance?

Attending class improves performance in a biology course.

In the experiment regarding class attendance, what are the treatment, control, independent variable, and dependent variable?

Treatment: Attending class; Control: Not attending class; Independent variable: Attendance; Dependent variable: Performance in biology.

Does the statement 'evolution is just a theory' have any merit?

No, because in scientific context, a theory is a well-substantiated explanation based on a body of evidence.

How does a hypothesis differ from a theory?

A hypothesis is a testable prediction, while a theory is a comprehensive explanation supported by extensive evidence.

What is the significance of having a control group in an experiment?

A control group serves as a baseline to compare experimental results, helping to isolate the effects of the testing variable.

What flaw exists in the turkey microwave experiment?

The biggest flaw is that more than one variable was changed: microwaves, location, and sunlight.