Chapter 2: Principles of Science and Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Science

A
  • The process of producing knowledge methodically and logically.
  • A search for answers to questions.
  • Develops and tests theories.
  • Helps us understand the world and meet practical needs.
  • It assumes that the universe, our world and nature are knowable.
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2
Q

What two things does science depends on?

A

Accuracy and Skepticism

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3
Q

Reproducibility

A

if one scientist conducts an experiment in a particular way finding particular results, his findings should be able to be reproduced by another scientist with the same results.

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4
Q

Replication

A

repeating the same study multiple times

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5
Q

Deductive Reasoning

A

logical reasoning from general to specific

Example: If you understand the Law of Gravitation, you know that an apple falling from a tree moves toward the ground

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6
Q

Inductive Reasoning

A

reasoning from many observations that help you to make a general rule
Example: We observe different bird species appearing
and disappearing in a specific location and as a general
rule decide that birds migrate to different locations.

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7
Q

How do you test a hypothesis?

A
  • Observation leads to identification of a problem.
  • Propose a hypothesis
  • Test the hypothesis
  • Gather data
  • Interpret results, if the hypothesis was supported, draw conclusions. It the hypothesis was not supported, redesign the test.
  • If the explanation holds up to repeated testing, you can develop a theory.
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8
Q

Probability

A

how likely something will occur

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9
Q

What are the types of experiments?

A
  • Natural Experiment
  • Manipulative Experiment
  • Blind Experiment
  • Double-Blind Experiment
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10
Q

Natural Experiment

A

involves observation of events that have already happened

Example: Mountain Building, Species Adaptations

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11
Q

Manipulative Experiment

A

conditions are deliberately altered to see what will happen; most are done in a laboratory under controlled conditions

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12
Q

Blind Experiment

A

researcher does not know which group is the control group (Example: Drug testing)

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13
Q

Double-Blind Experiment

A

both the researcher and test subject are unaware of who is in the test vs. control group

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14
Q

What are the two types of variables?

A
  • Independant
  • Dependant
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15
Q

The Independant Variable

A

This is the variable the researcher can manipulate

Plotted on the X-axis

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16
Q

The Dependant Variable

A

Also called the response variable because it “depends” on the independent variable

Plotted on the Y-axis

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17
Q

What are the types of models?

A
  • physical
  • mathematical
  • mental
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18
Q

Physical Model

A

a model of an actual object

19
Q

Mathematical Model

A

an equation

20
Q

Mental Model

A

a model of an idea

21
Q

Statistics

A
  • They are numbers that let you evaluate and compare things
  • A field of mathematics
  • They allow us to find patterns in data
  • They allow us to determine how “valid” our data is
22
Q

Desciptive Statistics

A

help you assess the general state of a group

Begins with the calculation of an average for a group.

Mean = average value

Symbol for mean is X with a bar on top or the greek letter mu

23
Q

Sample

A

a group of something

24
Q

Standard Deviation

A

a calculation that allows you to know how far data deviates from an average score; it also allows you to establish a range for your data

25
System
a network of interdependent components and processes, with materials and energy flowing from one component of the system to another
26
Ecosystem
a complex assemblage of animals, plants and their environment through which materials and energy move
27
Open System
a system that receives input from its surroundings and produces outputs that leave the system; almost all natural systems are open
28
Closed System
a system that exchanges no energy or matter with its surroundings; these are rare
29
Throughput
term used to describe the energy and matter that flow into, through, and out of a system
30
Positive Feedback
a self-perpetuating process; a positive feedback loop is a situation in which a factor or condition causes changes that enhance that factor or condition (Example: Bacteria get mercury poisoned. Fish eat bacteria so then fist get mercury poisoned. Humans eat fish, so humans get mercury poisoned.)
31
Negative Feedback
a process that supresses change; a negative feedback loop causes changes that reduce a factor or condition (Example: Your body gets hot, so it sweats to cool down. Your body gets cold, so it makes hairs on arms erect to capture heat.)
32
Homeostasis
a tendency to remain stable and unchanging
33
Disturbances
events that can destabilize or change a system Example: forest fire in an ecosystem
34
Resilience
the ability to recover from a disturbance
35
State Shift
conditions do not completely return to normal because the disturbance was so great
36
Scientific Consensus
a general agreement among scientists about a particular concept or principle
37
Paradigm Shift
term for a revolutionary change in scientific thinking
38
Pseudoscience
a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method
39
The worst nuclear accident in history occurred in which location?
Chernobyl, Ukraine
40
Statistics are used in:
analyzing data
41
A revolution is scientific thinking is known as:
a paradigm shift
42
An experiment in which a test group does not receive a variable is:
a controlled study
43
A testable explanation based on research alone is:
a hypothesis
44
The first calculation needed to determine the standard deviation of a set of values is the:
mean