Lab 1 Introduction to Scientific Investigation

Question 1

Scientific method?

Answer 1

Logical and organized approach to making observations, collecting data, and drawing conclusions

Question 2

Reproducibility?

Answer 2

Ability of other investigators to repeat experiments and reproduce results

Question 3

Observation

Answer 3

Noticing a natural pattern or event that leads to a question

Question 4

Question formulation

Answer 4

Formulating a question based on an observation

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

Proposed explanation of a phenomenon that is testable and falsifiable

Question 6

Null hypothesis

Answer 6

Hypothesis that assumes no effect or difference between control and experimental groups

Question 7

Alternate hypothesis

Answer 7

Hypothesis that states a significant difference between control and experimental groups

Question 8

Experimentation

Answer 8

Rigorous testing of a hypothesis through carefully designed experiments

Question 9

Independent variable

Answer 9

Variable manipulated by the experimenter, causing the observed results

Question 10

Dependent variable

Answer 10

Factor that responds to changes in the independent variable, the effect of the manipulation

Question 11

Control

Answer 11

Treatment that confirms the experimental setup does not influence the dependent variable

Question 12

Constants

Answer 12

Factors kept constant in each treatment, except for the manipulated variable

Question 13

Replication

Answer 13

Repeating the experiment several times under the same conditions to obtain reliable results

Question 14

Tables

Answer 14

Organizing and summarizing data to compare results of experimental and control treatments

Question 15

Sample mean

Answer 15

Sum of individual measurements divided by the number of measurements, an estimate of the population mean

Question 16

Standard error of the mean (SEM)

Answer 16

Estimate of the variability in data, calculated as the square root of the variance divided by the square root of the sample size

(sqrt(VAR) )/ (sqrt(samplesize))

Question 17

Figures

Answer 17

Graphing the sample mean and SEM for each treatment to observe trends

Question 18

Failing to reject hypotheses

Answer 18

Consistent results with the hypothesis, making it harder to reject

Question 19

Rejecting hypotheses

Answer 19

Learning from rejected hypotheses, improving experimental design and revising hypotheses

Question 20

Peer review

Answer 20

Review of a submitted paper by other scientists to assess logical thought, factual accuracy, methodology, and interpretation of results

Question 21

Theory

Answer 21

Hypothesis that has gained support from multiple tests and is comparable to a law in physics or chemistry

Question 22

Microscope

Answer 22

System of lenses that magnifies small objects

Question 23

Compound bright-field microscope

Answer 23

Microscope used in biology to see organisms and details invisible to the naked eye

Question 24

Parts of the microscope

Answer 24

Body tube, ocular lenses, revolving nosepiece, objective lenses, mechanical stage, condenser lens, iris diaphragm, coarse and fine adjustment knobs