Biology Unit 1

Scientific method

-represents the core logic of how science works

-consists of observation, question/hypothesis, experimentation, analysis, conclusion/reporting

Observation

-The process of science begins with _______ of the natural world.

-a description, measurement, or record of any object or phenomenon.

-must be reproducible.

Hypothesis

-The second step of the scientific method

-Must Be Testable and Refutable

-an educated guess

Experiment

-a repeatable manipulation of one or more aspects of the natural world

Analysis

-Human biases MUST be removed, typically this is done with statistics

-_______ the results of experimentation

-the crucial step where collected data is interpreted to draw conclusions and determine if the hypothesis is supported or refuted

Independent variable

-the cause

-the factor that the experimenter intentionally changes or manipulates to observe its effect on another variable

-values are _____ of the experiment

• Time, temperature, etc

-on x-axis

Dependent variable

-the effect

-the factor you measure and observe, and it is expected to change in response to another variable

-values are dependent to the independent variable.

-This is what you are testing

-on y-axis

Controlled experiment

-Is maintained under a standard set of conditions

-No change in the independent variable

-variable is constant

Treatment group

-experiencing a change in one variable

-Is the experimental group

-Is maintained under the same standard set of conditions as

the control group

-The independent variable is, however, manipulated.

Scientific theory

-multiple different scientists need to conclude the same thing after they conduct several experiments of their own design.

- a hypothesis, or a group of related hypotheses, that has been repeatedly confirmed by diverse independent researchers.

- Has such a high level of certainty that we base our everyday actions on them

Scientific law

-something that always happens.

-Describes “what”

-do not address why anything is happening i.e., what causes gravity?

Social Media (as a scientific info source)

-Fantastic source of general information

-Not a good source of scientific information due to a lack of credentials and a lack of peer review by scientists

Blind study

-the test subjects do not know who is receiving the treatment

Double-blind study

-neither the subjects nor the investigator knows who is receiving the treatment and who is a control subject.

Correlation

- a statistical measure that expresses the extent to which two variables are linearly related.

-two or more aspects of the natural world behave in an interrelated manner

Spurious correlation

-a third variable is the real cause of the observed correlation

Conclusion/Reporting (in terms of Sci Method)

-What is the answer to your question?, In science your ______ should be reported to everyone.

-The experimental data support the hypothesis

Control group

-at least two groups are compared

-with a treatment group experiencing a change in one variable, whereas that variable is constant for the control group

-Is maintained under a standard set of conditions

-No change in the independent variable

Primary literature

-first publication of scientific research that contains actual data with controls

-technical reports, conference proceedings, dissertations, peer-reviewed science journals

-Includes peer review

Secondary literature

-sources that give a basic overview of a topic, or summarize results

- textbooks, review articles, popular science journals, respected institutions on the Internet

-social media is included in this type of literature

Peer review

-process where multiple scientists review your work.

Scientific claim

-a statement about how the world works that can be tested using the scientific method

Placebo Effect

- an inert or innocuous substance used especially in controlled experiments testing the efficacy of another substance (such as a drug)

-the (potentially false) feeling in a study participant that he or she has benefited from the experimental treatment