Chapter 1 - Scientific Method Flashcards

1
Q

Biology

A

The study of living organisms

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2
Q

Scientific method

A

The process of making observations of the world and proposing, testing, and discarding/modifying ideas about how the world works

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3
Q

Hypothesis

A

Proses explanation for one or more observations

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4
Q

Testable

A

The ability of a hypothesis to be evaluated by the natural laws of the measurable universe

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5
Q

Supernatural

A

Not constrained by the laws of nature

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6
Q

Falsifiable

A

The ability of a hypothesis to be proven incorrect

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7
Q

Scientific theory

A

An explanation for a set of related observations that us based on a hypothesis that has been proven true by multiple, independent lines of research

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8
Q

Inductive reasoning

A

Combining a series of specific observations to make a general conclusion

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9
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

Using a general statement to predict specific outcomes

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10
Q

Prediction

A

The result we expect from a hypothesis test

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11
Q

Alternative hypothesis

A

Factor other than the tested hypothesis that may explain observations

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12
Q

Experimentation

A

Sets of actions or observations designed to test specific hypothesis

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13
Q

Data

A

Information collected by scientists through hypothesis testing

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14
Q

Variables

A

Any factor in a test that can change in value under different conditions

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15
Q

Independent variable

A

A variable whose value can be freely changed

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16
Q

Dependent variable

A

Variable whose changes are influenced by the independent variable

17
Q

Control

A

A subject similar to an experimental subject in all ways except it is not exposed to the experimental treatment

18
Q

Random assignment

A

An effective way to minimize differences between groups

19
Q

Placebo

A

Sham treatments in experiments

20
Q

Bias

A

Influence on the results of an experiments based on the opinions/expectations of the subjects/researchers

21
Q

Blind experiment

A

Situation in which the individual subjects are not aware of what they are predicted to experience

22
Q

Objective

A

Without bias

23
Q

Double-blind

A

Situation in which both the observers and the subjects are unaware of either the hypothesis or which group a subject is in

24
Q

Correlation

A

The relationship between two variables

25
Statistics
A specialized branch of mathematics used to evaluate and compare data
26
Sample
Small subgroup of a population
27
Mean
Average
28
Statistical tests
A type of experimental test whose data can be used to extend the results of a sample to an entire population
29
Statistically significant
A result that is very unlikely to be due to chance differences between the experimental and control samples
30
Primary sources
A source written by the researchers themselves and reviewed within the scientific community
31
Peer review
Process in which scientists review the results and conclusions of an experiment before it is published
32
Secondary source
Source with information from a primary source
33
Anecdotal evidence
Advice based on an individual's personal experience