EVS 206 Chapter 2: Principles of Science and Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from EVS 206 Chapter 2: Principles of Science and Systems.

Science

A methodical, evidence-based process of studying natural phenomena to build knowledge and explain how the natural world works.

Empiricism

Observation of real phenomena as the basis for knowledge.

Uniformitarianism

Assumption that basic natural processes do not change over time.

Parsimony

Ockham’s razor: prefer simple explanations with few assumptions.

Uncertainty

Knowledge changes with new evidence; absolute certainty is rare.

Repeatability

Ability to obtain the same results when the test is repeated.

Proof is elusive

Absolute proof is rare; scientific conclusions are provisional.

Testable questions

Questions that can be tested through observation or experimentation.

Skepticism

Questioning claims and demanding evidence before accepting them.

Reproducibility

Independent researchers can replicate results and obtain similar findings.

Accuracy

Correctness of measurements.

Precision

Level of detail and repeatability in measurements.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning from specific observations to general rules.

Scientific Theory

Well-supported explanation tested by many experiments and consensus; widely accepted until new evidence changes it.

Probability

Measure of how likely something is to occur; informs expectation, not certainty.

Natural Experiment

Observation of events that have already happened rather than controlled manipulation.

Manipulative Experiment

Deliberate alteration of some conditions to test effects while controlling others.

Controlled Study

Comparison between a treatment group and a non-treated control group.

Blind Experiment

Researcher does not know which group is treated until data analysis.

Double-Blind Experiment

Neither the participant nor the researcher knows group assignments during the study.

Hypothesis

A testable explanation or educated guess about a problem.

Prediction

Expected outcome if the hypothesis is correct.

Variables

Factors in a study that can change; one Dependent and one or more Independent variables.

Dependent Variable

The outcome measured; affected by the independent variable; plotted on the Y-axis.

Independent Variable

The factor deliberately changed to test its effect; plotted on the X-axis.

Graph axes

In a graph, the dependent (Y) axis shows the output; the independent (X) axis shows the input.

Models

Simplified representations of systems used to study and predict behavior.

Cooperation and Consensus

Scientific consensus arises from collaboration and self-correction; paradigm shifts change explanations that stop fitting.

Paradigm Shift

Major change in the explanatory framework recognized by the scientific community.

Scientific Conflict

Politics, economics, ethics, and media can influence science; issues include funding, agendas, and peer review.

Sound Science

Research conducted with credible methods and transparent reporting.

Junk Science

Unreliable science lacking rigorous methods or biased.

Open System

A system that takes inputs of energy or matter from outside.

Closed System

A system with no inputs from outside.

System Flow

Energy or matter input enters the system, flows through, and exits to the environment.

Equilibrium (steady state)

Input equals Output; no net change in storage.

Feedback

Output that serves as input and drives further changes in a system; can be positive or negative.

Positive Feedback

Amplifies changes, often destabilizing the system (e.g., fire leading to more fire).

Negative Feedback

Damps changes, helping stabilize the system (self-regulating).

Disturbance

Periodic destructive events that can cause state shifts in a system.

Resilience

Ability of a system to recover from disturbance.

Emergent Properties

Characteristics of a system that arise from interactions of parts and are not predictable from the parts alone.