Ch.1 - The Scientific Method Flashcards
What is biology
Biology is the study of living things.
What is the scientific method?
The scientific method is a process of investigation in which problems are identified and there explanations are tested by carrying out experiments.
What are the steps of the scientific method?
- Observation
- Hypothesis
- Experimentation
- Collection and interpretation of data
- Conclusion
- Relating the conclusion to existing knowledge.
- Reporting and publishing the results.
What is an observation?
An observation is when something is noticed.
What is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is an educated guess based on observations.
What is an experiment?
An experiment is designed to test a hypothesis.
What is data?
Data consists of the measurements, observations and information gathered from the results of an experiment.
What is a conclusion?
A conclusion is the summary of the results of an experiment.
Why are experiments published?
Experiments are published so that they can be repeated.
What is a theory?
A theory is a hypothesis that has been supported by many different experiments.
What is a “principle” or “law”?
A principle or law arises from a theory that has shown to be valid when fully tested over a long period of time.
What are the principles of experimentation?
Careful planning and design, ensure that the experiment is safe, design a control experiment, experiments must be fair.
How should a variable and constant be used in an experiment?
In most experiments, only a single variable is tested. All other variables should be kept constant.
When is an if, then statement used?
When forming a hypothesis, an if, then statement is used.
What is a control?
A control is used to provide a standard against which the actual experiment can be judged.
What are methods to make experiments fair?
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.
What is a double blind experiment?
Double blind means that both the investigator and the participant are unaware of the nature of the treatment that the participant is recieving.
What is thalidomide?
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 The drug was withdrawn in 1961.
What are the limitations of the scientific method?
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.
How was penicillin discovered?
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.
What are ethics
Ethics refers to whether conduct is right or wrong.
