Biodiversity and Connectedness: The Scientific Method

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental concepts of the scientific method, the hierarchy of scientific certainty (hypothesis, theory, law), and historical experimental methodology.

Science

A technique and way of seeking principles about the physical world, verified via experiments and observations.

Etymology of Science

Derived from a Latin verb meaning "to know."

Hypothesis

A tentative assumption (or educated guess) and testable prediction used to explain a natural phenomenon.

Scientific Theory

A hypothesis that has survived many tests, while competing hypotheses have not been supported.

Scientific Law

A theory that has been tested extensively and, based on a significant amount of evidence, has no data in disagreement.

Observation

The first step of the scientific method where new observations are made and previous data is observed.

Prediction

A clear, structured proposal of a cause-and-effect relationship that can be directly and objectively tested through observation or experimentation.

The Five Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Observation, 2. Hypothesis, 3. Tests or experiments, 4. Data interpretation, and 5. Conclusions.

Data

Facts collected by scientists to test principles and hypotheses.

Robert Koch's Experiment (1884)

An experiment designed to determine if one specific bacteria was common to all causes of a disease, proving bacteria did not spontaneously generate.

Koch's Four Controls

1. Bacteria present in all cases; 2. Possible to isolate bacteria; 3. Bacteria causes disease in healthy animals; 4. Bacteria can be removed and infect another animal.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Treatment Levels

The specific levels represented in the Figure 3 data graph: $0\,kg\,N$, $45\,kg\,N$, and $90\,kg\,N$.

Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journals

Considered the gold standard for scientific accuracy over sources like Wikipedia, blogs, or general textbooks.

Test Loop

A process where results support a hypothesis or data requires rejecting it and formulating a new explanation based on observed evidence.