Ch.1 - The Scientific Method

Question 1

What is biology

Answer 1

Biology is the study of living things.

Question 2

What is the scientific method?

Answer 2

The scientific method is a process of investigation in which problems are identified and there explanations are tested by carrying out experiments.

Question 3

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Answer 3

1. Observation
2. Hypothesis
3. Experimentation
4. Collection and interpretation of data
5. Conclusion
6. Relating the conclusion to existing knowledge.
7. Reporting and publishing the results.

Question 4

What is an observation?

Answer 4

An observation is when something is noticed.

Question 5

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 5

A hypothesis is an educated guess based on observations.

Question 6

What is an experiment?

Answer 6

An experiment is designed to test a hypothesis.

Question 7

What is data?

Answer 7

Data consists of the measurements, observations and information gathered from the results of an experiment.

Question 8

What is a conclusion?

Answer 8

A conclusion is the summary of the results of an experiment.

Question 9

Why are experiments published?

Answer 9

Experiments are published so that they can be repeated.

Question 10

What is a theory?

Answer 10

A theory is a hypothesis that has been supported by many different experiments.

Question 11

What is a “principle” or “law”?

Answer 11

A principle or law arises from a theory that has shown to be valid when fully tested over a long period of time.

Question 12

What are the principles of experimentation?

Answer 12

Careful planning and design, ensure that the experiment is safe, design a control experiment, experiments must be fair.

Question 13

How should a variable and constant be used in an experiment?

Answer 13

In most experiments, only a single variable is tested. All other variables should be kept constant.

Question 14

When is an if, then statement used?

Answer 14

When forming a hypothesis, an if, then statement is used.

Question 15

What is a control?

Answer 15

A control is used to provide a standard against which the actual experiment can be judged.

Question 16

What are methods to make experiments fair?

Answer 16

The sample size should be as large as possible, the sample should be selected at random, others must be able to replicate the experiment and testing should be double blind.

Question 17

What is a double blind experiment?

Answer 17

Double blind means that both the investigator and the participant are unaware of the nature of the treatment that the participant is recieving.

Question 18

What is thalidomide?

Answer 18

Thalidomide was a drug used in the 1950s to treat morning sickness in human pregnancy. It worked on animals, however many babies who were born to mothers who took thalidomide had major limb deformities. The drug was withdrawn in 1961.

Question 19

What are the limitations of the scientific method?

Answer 19

The insufficient extent of our knowledge leads to incorrect hypotheses and poor experiment design. Results may be interpreted wrongly (thalidomide). Changes in the natural world would require constant growth of knowledge.

Question 20

How was penicillin discovered?

Answer 20

Sir Alexander Fleming accidentally left a petri dish of bacteria uncovered and it became contaminated by patches of fungus. Bacteria were killed in the areas surrounding the fungus. This was later made into a drug and named penicillin.

Question 21

What are ethics

Answer 21

Ethics refers to whether conduct is right or wrong.