Chapter 1 Flashcards
Science is the —— gained from the careful, —— investigation of the ——– world.
Knowledge; systematic; natural
Scientific thinking is based on ——
Observation
What is a universal statement? Give an example.
A universal statement is a statement that excludes every other possibility.
An idea a person takes for granted is an
Presupposition
What is a worldview?
The overall perspective from which a person sees and interprets the world.
What characteristics must a problem possess for it to be studied scientifically?
It must fall within the limitations of science, and it must be observable, measurable, and repeated.
What is a hypothesis?
A simple, testable statement about the answer to a problem.
(True or false). The goal of science is to obtain information that is workable.
True
(True or false) An inference is a testable statement about the the solution to a problem that is made before conducting an experiment.
False. An inference is a logical conclusion based on an observation.
What system of measurement is used in science?
Metric system
Can science be used to make value judgments? Explain your answer.
No. A value judgment determines somethings worth. Science cannot determine worth or value; it can only make observations.
Tell whether each is scientific. If not, tell why it is not.
A) the world came into being as a result of the Big Bang
B) the antibiotic erythromycin is useful in treating pneumonia and ear infections.
A) Not scientific- it is observable; no person was there to observe how the universe began.
B) scientific- it is within the limits of science, is observable, measurable, and repeated.
C) all penguins live in Antarctica.
D) endangered giant pandas deserve greater protection than endangered snails.
C) not scientific- a universal statement
D) not scientific- a value judgment
Defend the claim that a biblical worldview-not a naturalistic worldview- makes sense of reality.
A biblical worldview is based on the Bible, and the Bible is our only sure source of truth. Christianity is the worldview that teaches that humans are precious, that explains the existence of good and evil, and that calls humans to do good to others.
Explain how a person’s worldview will influence his presuppositions.
Because a person’s worldview is the perspective he uses to interpret everything he observes, his presuppositions will be based on that perspective.
Define the following terms used in an experiment: Variable Experimental group Experimental variable Control group
Variables are conditions or factors that can vary among the groups in an experiment.
Experimental variable is the factor is altered; it should be the only difference between experimental group and control group.
Experimental group is exposed to experimental variable.
Control group lacks the experimental variable.
Why is data important for verifying an answer?
Data is the information gained from an experiment or survey. To verify an answer, the experiment must gather more data through repeated experiments or surveys.
Why is it important for an experiment to have a control group?
Comparing the experimental group with the control group makes it possible to determine what effect the experimental variable had on the experimental group.
Did Dr. Goldberger’s results mean that anyone who does not eat milk, eggs, and meat will get pellagra? Explain
No, Dr Goldberger’s experiment using healthy prisoners whose diet was changed proved that a diet lacking in fresh animal products could result in pellagra. However, it cannot be proven that every individual would develop pellagra.
Why is evolution not an example of science?
Evolution is not observable, nor can an experiment be designed to verify it.
Are the conclusions that scientists draw always accurate and truthful? What obstacles prevent scientists from being right all the time?
No. The limitations of science, bias, faulty presuppositions and inferences, different worldviews, and human error make scientists fallible.
