The Nature Of Science/Scientific Method

Question 1

Explain the role of peer review in science.

Answer 1

Peer review ensures research quality and credibility by having experts evaluate studies before publication. It helps detect errors, biases, and unsupported claims.

Question 2

How can you distinguish proper from improper research conclusions?

Answer 2

Proper conclusions are based on valid data, logical reasoning, and peer-reviewed evidence. Improper conclusions rely on insufficient data, bias, or misinterpretation of results.

Question 3

What are the benefits and limitations of experiments on humans, human cells, and animal models?

Answer 3

Humans: Provide direct relevance to human health but raise ethical concerns.

Human Cells: Allow controlled testing at a cellular level but may not represent full-body responses.

Animal Models: Help predict human outcomes but may not always translate accurately due to biological differences.

Question 4

What is the relationship between sample size and statistical significance?

Answer 4

Larger sample sizes increase reliability and reduce the likelihood that results are due to chance, improving statistical significance.
Small sample sizes may lead to unreliable conclusions.

Question 5

What are the six properties of living things? Provide examples.

Answer 5

1. Organization – Cells form tissues, organs, and systems (e.g., human body structure).
   
   2. Metabolism – Organisms convert energy (e.g., plants photosynthesize).
   3. Homeostasis – Maintaining stable internal conditions (e.g., body temperature regulation).
   4. Growth & Development – Organisms grow and change (e.g., a tadpole developing into a frog).
   5. Response to Stimuli – Reacting to the environment (e.g., pupils dilating in light).
   6. Reproduction – Producing offspring (e.g., bacteria dividing by binary fission).

Question 6

Compare and contrast viruses and bacteria in relation to life.

Answer 6

Bacteria: Living, single-celled organisms that reproduce independently.

Viruses: Non-living, require a host to replicate.

Both: Can cause diseases, mutate, and be targeted by medical treatments (antibiotics for bacteria, antivirals for viruses).

Question 7

Compare and contrast science with other ways of learning.

Answer 7

Science relies on empirical evidence, experimentation, and logical reasoning, while other ways of learning—such as intuition, tradition, or authority—may not require systematic testing or verification.

Question 8

What are the limitations of science?

Answer 8

Science cannot answer subjective or moral questions, relies on available technology, is influenced by human bias, and is limited to observable and measurable phenomena.

Question 9

Distinguish between scientific laws, theories, and hypotheses.

Answer 9

Hypothesis: A testable prediction based on observations.

Theory: A well-supported explanation of natural phenomena.

Law: A universal statement describing how nature behaves (e.g., gravity).

Question 10

What are important aspects of a properly phrased scientific question?

Answer 10

It should be specific, testable, measurable, and based on observations

Question 11

What are the key features of a properly designed experiment?

Answer 11

Controlled variables: Only one independent variable is changed.

Randomization: Reduces bias.

Large sample size: Ensures reliability.

Reproducibility: Can be repeated by others.