ENVS August 28th

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, which can be tested through experiments and observations.

Example

Free roaming domestic cats will decrease native songbird populations within suburban regions of America.

Dependent Variables

The outcome that a researcher is trying to explain/ measure

independent variable

Measured factor that the researcher believes has a causal impact on the dependent variable

Control Group

A group of subjects that is not exposed to the independent variable, used as a benchmark to compare against the experimental group.

Observational studies cant have what?

a control group due to ethical reasons

Theory

a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses.

Example

Evolution

A scientific theory is not a what?

a hunch, as spoken by those who do not accept the theory of biological evolution, “Evolution is just a theory”.

Essential Characteristics of Science are what?

1. It is guided by natural law:universe operates according to natural law

It has to be explanatory by what?

by reference to natural law; all causes must be considered natural

It is????>

testable

Its conclusions are what?

tentative, not necesairly the last word but reliable

It is alsoooooo

Falseible, have a test for wrongness, open to the possibility that it is wrong

Peer Review

a process whereby researchers’ work is evaluated by outside experts to determine whether it is of a high enough quality to publish.

Significance of basic science

Research that often seems trivial, mundane, or inconsequential from the title or abstract alone, can actually have significant implications and lead to more questioning

Science Defunding 1970s

Senator William Proxmire argued that public tax payer dollars were being wasted on science and research that was superfluous and unnecessary

•As a result, he established the Golden Fleece Award, a tongue-in-cheek award given monthly to research he and his team deemed a “waste” to taxpayers

•1975-1988

•Proxmire's highly publicized campaign created a negative public perception of government-funded research. Scientists and other advocates argued that the awards halted legitimate research for political purposes and fostered hostility toward government spending on science.

Golden Goose Awards

In response to the Golden Fleece Award

•

Scientific community wanted to highlight federally funded basic research that ultimately changed the world

•

Established in 2012