Lecture 3 - Paradigms

Question 1

B4WARMED EXPERIMENT

Answer 1

Independent Variable:
Variable manipulated by researcher
EX: Temperature

Dependent Variable:
Variable responding
EX: Plant growth

-Data collected –> Analyzed –> degree of confidence

Question 2

Rule of Thumb

Answer 2

Ecological / environment considered significant if there is less than 5% chance results are random

-At least 95% sure we are right

-Science never 100% right

Question 3

Effect Size

Answer 3

Quantitative measures of the magnitude of a phenomena

-grows after study is replicated

Question 4

Types of Experiments

Manipulative

Answer 4

Conditions intentionally altered for one variable
EX: lab based

Question 5

Types of Experiments

Comparative

Answer 5

Making comparisons of different individuals under different conditions

Question 6

Types of Experiments

Experimental Modeling

Answer 6

-Years and years of data
-Help predict
EX: Computer models of biological, ecological, or environment features

Mathematical Models
- Project things like population growth

Simulation Models
- Study ecosystems or global processes to test rates
- Test hypothesis in simulated world
-only as good as data that goes in
-million things that could go wrong
-computers can’t predict outliers

Question 7

Resistance

Answer 7

Environment is very resistance to change

-Eventually regains normal structure after disturbance

Question 8

Ecological State Shift

Answer 8

Ecosystem disturbed past a certain threshold
-Change occurs
-Almost impossible to go back

EX: Global climate change
*dont know when state shift will occur

Question 9

Scientific Consensus

Answer 9

Model most scientists agree on
-Can lead to paradigm