Lab Practical 1 Exam Terms Flashcards
Scientific Method
Certain habits of disciplined creativity, careful observation, logical thinking and honest analysis of ones observations and conclusions.
- inductive method
- hypothetico-deductive method
Inductive Method
A process of making numerous observations until one feels confident in drawing generalizations and predictions from them.
Hypothetico-Deductive Method
Method in which an investigator begins by asking a question and formulating a hypothesis to be tested by means of experimental design.
Sample Size
The number of subjects (animals or people) used in a study.
An adequate sample size controls for chance events and individual variations in response and thus enables us to place more confidence in the outcome.
Control Group
The group that receives the placebo.
No treatment.
Treatment Group
Group that receives the treatment in a scientific experiment.
Psychosomatic Effects
Effects of the subjects state of mind on his or her physiology.
Can have an undesirable effect on experimental results if we do not control for them.
Double-Blind Method
Used as a way to control experimenter bias.
In this procedure, neither the subject to whom a treatment is given nor the person giving it and recording the results knows whether that subject is receiving the experimental treatment or placebo.
Statistical Testing
Tests that can be applied to the data.
chi-square test
T test
Analysis of variance
Fact
Information that can be independently verified by any trained person.
Law of Nature
Generalization about the predictable ways in which matter and energy behave.
The result of inductive reasoning based on repeated, confirmed observations.
Theory
An explanatory statement or set of statements derived from facts, laws and confirmed hypothesis.
Ventral
Toward the front or belly.
Example:
The aorta is ventral to the vertebral column.
Dorsal
Toward the back or spine.
Example:
The vertebral column is dorsal to the aorta.
Anterior
Toward the ventral side.
Example:
The sternum is anterior to the heart.
Posterior
Toward the dorsal side.
Example:
The esophagus is posterior to the trachea.
Cephalic
Toward the head or superior end.
Example:
The cephalic end of the embryonic neural tube develops into the brain.
Rostral
Toward the forehead or nose.
Example:
The forebrain is rostral to the brainstem.
Caudal
Toward the tail or inferior end.
Example:
The spinal cord is causal to the brain.
Superior
Above.
Example:
The heart is superior to the diaphragm.
Inferior
Below.
Example:
The liver is inferior to the diaphragm.
Medial
Toward the median plane.
Example:
The heart is medial to the lungs.
Lateral
Away from the median plane.
Example:
The eyes are lateral to the nose.
Proximal
Closer to the point of attachment or origin.
Example:
The elbow is proximal to the wrist.
