book chapter 2 (1)

Question 1

Three common ingredients in recipes for science

Answer 1

1. Hypotheses are used to generate expectation
2. expectations are compared with observations
3. That comparison is used to develop, confirm, reject or refine a hypothesis

Question 2

experiment

Answer 2

A researcher introduces specific changes to a system and observes the effects of these changes

Question 3

variable

Answer 3

Anything that can vary, change, or occur in different values

Question 4

Value of a variable

Answer 4

Is just its state or quantity in some instance

Question 5

Independent variable

Answer 5

A variable that stands alone, that is, whose values vary independently from the values of other variables in an experiment

Question 6

Intervention

Answer 6

When scientists introduce specific changes to a system in an experiment, they do so by changing the value of one or more independent variables

Question 7

Dependent variable

Answer 7

Is a variable whose change depends on another variable

Question 8

Extraneous variables

Answer 8

Are other variables besides the independent variable that can influence the value of the dependent variable

Question 9

confounding variable

Answer 9

extraneous variables, which vary in ways that influence the value of the dependent variable in unanticipated ways

Question 10

hawthorne effect (observer bias)

Answer 10

Where experimental participants change their behavior, perhaps unconsciously, in response to being observed

Question 11

instruments of an experiment

Answer 11

Technological tools or other kinds of apparatus that help enable the experimental processs

Question 12

collecting data

Answer 12

involves gathering and often measuring information about the values of variables of interest at a particular time, place and context

Question 13

measurement error

Answer 13

an inherent part of data collection

Question 14

calibration

Answer 14

involves the comparison of the measurements of one instrument, with those of another, to check the instruments accuracy so it can be adjusted if needed

Question 15

quantitative data

Answer 15

are in a form, often numerical, that makes them easily comparable

Question 16

Qualitative data

Answer 16

consists of information in non-numerical form. This information can be obtained, for example, from diary accounts, unstructured interviews and observations of animal behavior

Question 17

crucial experiment

Answer 17

an experiment that decisively adjucates between two hypotheses, settling once and for all which is true

Question 18

Underdetermination

Answer 18

The evidence not sufficient to determine which of multiple hypotheses are true

Some think that every hypothesis is
always underdetermined by the data, that there is always some hypothesis (perhaps not yet known) that is also consistent with all the data, no matter how much is collected.