Lecture 1 - Scientific Method Flashcards
What type(s) of reasoning does science use?
Deductive and inductive
Describe DEDUCTIVE reasoning.
A type of logic in which one goes from a general statement to a specific instance.
-> Start with what you know and apply it to other things to expand your knowledge.
Give an example of DEDUCTIVE reasoning (liking pizza).
Premise 1: All students in NYA like pizza
Premise 2: Fatema is a student in NYA
Conclusion: Therefore, I can conclude that Fatema likes pizza
When is a conclusion true when using DEDUCTIVE reasoning?
If all of the premises are true, then so is the conclusion.
Describe INDUCTIVE reasoning.
Involves going from a series of specific cases to a general statement.
- > start specific, make it general to reach a conclusion
- more changeable/malleable than deductive.
Give an example of INDUCTIVE reasoning (liking pizza).
Premise 1: Fatema likes pizza
Premise 2: Andrew likes pizza
Premise 3: Maya likes pizza
Conclusion: Therefore, all students in NYA like pizza
If the premises of inductive reasoning are true, is the conclusion true?
Not necessarily.
Even if the premises are true, the conclusion can be false.
Science provides support for/against a theory, and does not produce facts.
Which type(s) of reasoning can be used to prove facts?
Deductive. If the premises are true, the conclusion is true.
You can never prove anything using inductive reasoning, but you can disprove.
Is the following inductive or deductive reasoning?
All fruits are plants. An apple is a fruit. Therefore, apples are plants.
Deductive.
Is the following inductive or deductive reasoning?
The coin I pulled from my bag is a penny. A second coin pulled from the bag is a penny. A third coin pulled is a penny. Therefore, all the coins in the bag are pennies.
Inductive.
What is data?
Recorded observations or items of information that fall into two categories: Quantitative and Qualitative.
What are the types of data?
Qualitative and quantitative.
Describe qualitative data. Give examples.
Description rather than numerical measurements.
Ex: colour, smell, shape
Describe quantitative data. Give examples.
Information in the form of numerical measurements.
Ex: size, weight, duration, count
What type of reasoning does the scientific method use (generally)?
Inductive
Describe observation.
- Act of viewing the world around us.
- Allow us to ask focused questions about nature.
- The most important component of scientific method.
Describe hypothesis.
- Tentative explanations of observed phenomenon based on research or knowledge.
- A statement of cause and effect.
Describe predictions.
- Your prediction lets you get specific, how will you demonstrate the hypothesis is true.
- Can be tested experimentally.
Describe experiments.
- Protocol developed with the goal of supporting or refuting a hypothesis.
- Provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a particular factor is manipulated.
Describe a theory.
- General explanations of natural phenomena supported by many experiments and observations.
- Only as good as the amount of evidence that support them.
When observing a phenomenon, what is it important to evaluate?
- unique to the individual, subject, or system that you are observing.
- shared amongst some or many individuals subjects or systems
Describe variability.
Can be expressed as the “variance of the system”:
- measures how far a set of numbers is spread out
Describe small variance.
Indicates the data are cluttered tightly around the average
- little variability
Describe large variance.
Indicates the data are spread out (lots of different observations)
- high variability
Describe a controlled experiment.
Compares an experimental group (one that is altered) with a control group (one that is not changed)
Ideally, the only variable of interest differs between two groups.
Describe a variable.
something that is changed
Describe a control
Something that does not change across testing groups.
Describe an independent variable.
Factor that is changed by the person doing the experiment.
Describe the experimental group.
Group where the independent variable is changed.
Describe the control group.
Group where the independent variable is not changed (default)
Describe the dependent variable.
The factor measured in the experiment.
