Lecture III: Scientific Method

Question 1

Two types of scientific investigation

Answer 1

1. Discovery Based Science

2. Hypothesis Testing

Question 2

Discovery Based Science is

Answer 2

• Observing and describing what you see: observation of life, no preconceived ideas, collection and analysis of data.
• Make a general statement based on lots of specific observations

Question 3

Hypothesis Testing is

Answer 3

• Answer ‘why’ questions by conducting experiments: Test a specific idea (hypothesis) to help answer the ‘why’ question, perform scientific experiments, part of the scientific method
• From general observations and/or studying past research ask specific ‘why’ questions about the living world

Question 4

Steps of the scientific method

Answer 4

1. Observation
2. Ask a ‘why’ question
3. Formulate a hypothesis
4. Make a prediction
5. Tests your prediction
6. Analyze and interpret results
7. Formulate conclusions

Question 5

Observation is to

Answer 5

• Conduct discovery-based science on your own to collect new observations about a topic of interest.
• Learn about other research that has been done in the past about this topic.
• As scientists we build on the knowledge that has already been attained, test its validity and push to understand further.

Question 6

Ask a ‘why’ question is to

don’t overthink it

Answer 6

Choose one observation that you would like to understand further and ask a why question.

Question 7

A hypothesis is

Answer 7

An educated guess based on observations to answer the ‘why’ question.

Question 8

Hypothesis is denoted by

Answer 8

‘H’ with a subscript if there are more than 1

Question 9

you cannot prove that your hypothesis is ____, but you can prove that it is ____.

Answer 9

right, wrong

Question 10

You cannot ____ your hypothesis, you can only _____ it

Answer 10

prove, support

Question 11

Making a prediction predicts

Answer 11

the outcome of an experiment

Question 12

Experiments need 3 types of variables

Answer 12

1. The Independent variable
2. The Dependent variable
3. Controlled variables

Question 13

The independent variable is

Answer 13

The variable that is being manipulated in the experiment

Question 14

The experimental group should

Answer 14

determine whether the independent variable has the effect that you expected according to your hypothesis.

Question 15

The control group will provide

Answer 15

a base for comparison with the experimental group(s).

Question 16

The control groups will rule out

Answer 16

any other variables during the experiment as a possible cause for the results obtained.

Question 17

Ideally the control group should experience the _____ conditions as the _____ group(s) except for the _____ variable that is being manipulated.

Answer 17

same, experimental, independent

Question 18

The dependent variable is

Answer 18

The variable that is measured in the experiment

Question 19

Controlled variables are

Answer 19

Variables that you will keep the same for both the experimental and control groups

Question 20

Experimental design steps

Answer 20

1. Define the hypothesis you are testing
2. Define what the null hypothesis is
3. Design a controlled experiment that could be repeated by someone else

Question 21

The null hypothesis is

Answer 21

The null hypothesis is the default position that the manipulation of the independent variable has no effect on the dependent variable

Question 22

Important things to keep in mind during the experimental design

Answer 22

1. Stay objective when performing your experiment and analysing your data.
2. Make sure you have a large enough sample size to better represent what is happening in the real world.
3. Make sure your experiment is repeatable.

Question 23

The sample size is

Answer 23

the number of organisms (or independent units of organisms) you have in your experimental and control groups.

Question 24

Formulating conclusions is deciding

Answer 24

Based on your statistical results, to determine whether you can reject the null hypothesis for your experiment.

Question 25

Analyzing and interpreting results using ____

Answer 25

statistics

Question 26

Hypothesis vs. Theory

Answer 26

A scientific theory is:

1. Much broader in scope than a hypothesis.
2. Supported by a much larger body of evidence than a hypothesis.