Module 1 Flashcards
1
Q
The Scientific Method
A
- Observation
- Question
- Hypothesis
- Experiment
- Results
- Conclusions
2
Q
Hypothesis
A
must be something you can test
3
Q
Testing a Hypothesis - Experiments
A
- must produce measurable results that disprove or support the hypothesis
- results of experiments must be interpreted (conclusions)
- ideal experiment will yield results with only one possible interpretation
- outcomes might have multiple interpretations
- biases can influence conclusions
- good design avoid alternate interpretations or biases
4
Q
Making a Good Experiment
A
- Limit variables- makes results easier to interpret
- Limit bias- everyone has biases
- Reproducibility - make sure it wasn’t a fluke, or due to some unconsidered variable
5
Q
Limiting Variables
A
- variable is any factor that can be controlled, changed, or measured in an experiment
- scientists try to change just one variable per experiment
- the independent variable is what is being manipulated as a potential cause- what gets changed
- dependent variable is the response, output, or effect under investigation- what gets measured
6
Q
Experimental Group
A
group getting treatment that is being tested
7
Q
Control group
A
group not getting treatment- serves as baseline, and ensures validity of experiment
* may often receive a placebo instead of experiential treatment
8
Q
Reproducibility & Statistical Analysis
A
- scientists must repeat experiments several times to ensure that findings are not due to chance alone
- other scientists should be able to reproduce findings
- data should have statistical analysis performed
9
Q
Peer Review & Publication
A
- scientists evaluate each others work before it is published
- check for rigor, reproducibility
- conclusions reasonable based on data
- reviewers suggest additional experiments that could strengthen or weaken conclusions - self correcting- hypotheses may change
10
Q
Theory
A
a well-sustained explanation which is comprehensive and able to explain a great many observations
11
Q
Hypothesis
A
- no expectation of truth
- narrow in scope
- subject to immediate testing
- must be falsifiable; can be refuted by contradictory evidence
12
Q
Theory
A
- well-substantiated and never been shown to be false
- broad in scope
- already supported by a large body of evidence
- must be falsifiable; can be refuted by contradictory evidence
13
Q
The Scientific Process - Review
A
- scientists try to design experiments to limit variables and bias
- make conclusions based on data and info they have at the time
- as scientists gain new knowledge, they may disprove old hypothesis and generate new hypotheses
- scientific knowledge builds on itself and is self correcting
- takes a long time to build a scientific consensus
- takes a long time for an explanation for observations to become a scientific theory
14
Q
What does food provide
A
- energy: muscle cells need energy to help us move, braincells- think, digestive system cells- use food we eat
- building blocks: bodies make new cells to replace old ones, about 330 million new cells each day, food providing building blocks for our cells and bodies
15
Q
What are we made of
A
- water
- organic compounds- large complex molecules that have carbon as their backbone- often with hydrogen and oxygen
- inorganic compounds- other molecules, not carbon based, like salt, calcium
