Chapter 1 - Scientific Method

Question 1

Biology

Answer 1

The study of living organisms

Question 2

Scientific method

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

Proses explanation for one or more observations

Question 4

Testable

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Supernatural

Answer 5

Not constrained by the laws of nature

Question 6

Falsifiable

Answer 6

The ability of a hypothesis to be proven incorrect

Question 7

Scientific theory

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Inductive reasoning

Answer 8

Combining a series of specific observations to make a general conclusion

Question 9

Deductive reasoning

Answer 9

Using a general statement to predict specific outcomes

Question 10

Prediction

Answer 10

The result we expect from a hypothesis test

Question 11

Alternative hypothesis

Answer 11

Factor other than the tested hypothesis that may explain observations

Question 12

Experimentation

Answer 12

Sets of actions or observations designed to test specific hypothesis

Question 13

Data

Answer 13

Information collected by scientists through hypothesis testing

Question 14

Variables

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Independent variable

Answer 15

A variable whose value can be freely changed

Question 16

Dependent variable

Answer 16

Variable whose changes are influenced by the independent variable

Question 17

Control

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Random assignment

Answer 18

An effective way to minimize differences between groups

Question 19

Placebo

Answer 19

Sham treatments in experiments

Question 20

Bias

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Blind experiment

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Objective

Answer 22

Without bias

Question 23

Double-blind

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Correlation

Answer 24

The relationship between two variables

Question 25

Statistics

Answer 25

A specialized branch of mathematics used to evaluate and compare data

Question 26

Sample

Answer 26

Small subgroup of a population

Question 27

Mean

Answer 27

Average

Question 28

Statistical tests

Answer 28

A type of experimental test whose data can be used to extend the results of a sample to an entire population

Question 29

Statistically significant

Answer 29

A result that is very unlikely to be due to chance differences between the experimental and control samples

Question 30

Primary sources

Answer 30

A source written by the researchers themselves and reviewed within the scientific community

Question 31

Peer review

Answer 31

Process in which scientists review the results and conclusions of an experiment before it is published

Question 32

Secondary source

Answer 32

Source with information from a primary source

Question 33

Anecdotal evidence

Answer 33

Advice based on an individual’s personal experience