Ch1: The Scientific Method

Question 1

What is biology?

Answer 1

The study of living things

Question 2

Name 3 areas of study in Biology

Answer 2

-Botany: study of plants
-Zoology: study of animals
-Microbiology: study of small living things

Question 3

What is the scientific method?

Answer 3

Process of investigation in which problems are identified and their suggested explanations are tested by carrying out experiments

Question 4

What is the process of the scientific method?

Answer 4

-Observation
-Hypothesis
-Experimentation
-Collection and interpretation of data
-Conclusion
-Relating the conclusion to existing knowledge
-Reporting and publishing the results

Question 5

What is an observation?

Answer 5

When something is noticed

Question 6

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 6

An educated guess based on observations

-Leads to a theory then a principle

Question 7

What is an experiment?

Answer 7

Designed to test a hypothesis

Question 8

Explain experimentation

Answer 8

Results will either support or contradict the hypothesis

Question 9

What is data?

Answer 9

The measurements, observations or information gathered from experiments

Question 10

What is a conclusion?

Answer 10

The summary of the results of an experiment

Question 11

Explain how you can relate the conclusion to the existing knowledge

Answer 11

On the basis of the conclusion, the hypothesis is:
-Supported if the results agree fully
-Changed if the results agree only partially
-Rejected if the results contradict it

Question 12

Explain reporting and publishing the results

Answer 12

-Experimental procedures and results are often published in scientific journals, magazines and online.
-These experiments should be repeatable

Question 13

What is a theory?

Answer 13

A hypothesis that has been supported by many different experiments

Question 14

What is a principle or law?

Answer 14

It arises from a theory that has been shown to be valid when fully tested over a long period of time

Question 15

What is a variable?

Answer 15

A factor that may change in an experiment

Question 16

What is a control?

Answer 16

Used to provide a comparison (or standard) against which the actual experiment can be judged

Question 17

What are the principles of experimentation?

Answer 17

-Careful planning and design
-Ensure the experiment is safe
-Design a control experiment
-Experiments must be fair

Question 18

How can you carefully plan and design an experiment?

Answer 18

-Only one variable is tested
-All other variables are kept constant

Question 19

How do you design a control experiment?

Answer 19

-Should only be on variable (or difference) between the test experiment and the control
-Placebo

Question 20

What is a placebo?

Answer 20

Used in drug trials, control patients are given harmless pills as a comparison to the test experiment

Question 21

How can you make a fair experiment?

Answer 21

-Larger sample sizes to produce more reliable results
-Random selection to prevent bias
-Experiments must be replicable
-Double-blind testing

Question 22

What is double-blind testing?

Answer 22

Neither the person being tested nor the tester should know who is receiving the real treatment or who is receiving the placebo

Question 23

What are the limitations of the scientific method?

Answer 23

-The extent of our knowledge
-The basis of the investigation
-Interpreting results
-Changes in the natural world
-Accidental discoveries

Question 24

Explain how the extent of our knowledge is a limitation

Answer 24

The ability to form a hypothesis and design an experiment is dependant on the amount we know, relating to our observations

Question 25

Explain how the basis of the investigation is a limitation

Answer 25

If the experiment is badly designed, improperly carried out or has a lack of suitable controls, it leads to invalid results

Question 26

Explain how interpreting results can be a limitation

Answer 26

If results are interpreted incorrectly, faulty conclusions and hypotheses may be drawn
-e.g. Thalidomine incident

Question 27

Explain how changes in the natural world can be a limitation

Answer 27

Sometimes results only apply to living things at one particular time
e.g. some bacteria have emerged that are resistant to some or all antibiotics

Question 28

Explain how accidental discoveries can be a limitation

Answer 28

Some insights have discovered by accident, rather than through the scientific method process
e.g. Penicillin antibiotics by Alexander Fleming

Question 29

What are ethics?

Answer 29

Whether conduct is right or wrong

Question 30

Explain ethical issues and give 3 examples

Answer 30

Sometimes there are arguments over whether the application of the scientific method are good or bad

e.g.
-The use of captive animals in experiments
-Medical issues (Contraception, abortion, IVF)
-Organ transplants, especially from animals to humans