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Sam - Biology > The Scientific Method > Flashcards

The Scientific Method Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Biology is the study of?

A

Living things

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2
Q

Microbiology is the study of?

A

Study of small living things

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3
Q

What is the scientific method?

A

Is a process of investigation in which problems are identified and their suggested explanations are tested by carrying out experiments.

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4
Q

Name 7 steps of scientific method.

A

Observation,
Hypothesis,
Experimentation,
Collection and interpretation of data,
Conclusion,
Relating the conclusion to existing knowledge,
Reporting and publishing the results.

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5
Q

What does ‘observation’ involve?

A

When something is noticed

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6
Q

What does ‘hypothesis’ involve?

A

An educated guess based on observations

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7
Q

What does ‘experimentation’ involve?

A

Is designed to test a hypothesis

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8
Q

What does ‘collection and interpretation of data’ involve?

A

The information obtained during experimentation is collected, recorded, analysed

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9
Q

What does ‘conclusion’ involve?

A

Is a statement of the interpretation of the results.

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10
Q

What does ‘relating the conclusion to existing knowledge’ involve?

A

The conclusion of an experiment should tie in with existing knowledge of the topic being examined

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11
Q

What does ‘reporting and publishing the results’ involve?

A

Info is made available

Spread knowledge

Peer review

Publish work

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12
Q

Name 2 ways to publish results.

A

Scientific journal or world wide web

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13
Q

What’s a theory?

A

A hypothesis that’s been supported by many different experiments

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14
Q

What’s a principle of law?

A

Arises from a theory that’s been show to be valid when fully tested over a long period of time

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15
Q

What is an experiment?

A

A test for a hypothesis

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16
Q

What is a variable?

A

A factor that may change in an experiment

17
Q

Name the 4 principles of experimentation.

A
  1. Careful planning and design
  2. Ensure experiment is safe
  3. Design a control experiment
  4. Experiments must be fair
18
Q

In most experiments what is tested?

A

Only a single factors or one variable

19
Q

All other variables in an experiment should be?

A

Kept constant

20
Q

Give 5 safety features.

A
  • tie back long hair
  • wear a laboratory coat
  • wear safety goggles (where required)
  • don’t place finger in mouth/eyes before washing your hands
  • report accidents to teacher
21
Q

What is a control?

A

Used to provide a comparison

22
Q

Name a pill used for a control group.

A

Placebo

23
Q

What is a placebo?

A

Eg: neither patients or medical staff known who is getting the placebo and who’s getting the real drug

24
Q

Give 4 factors to ensure experiments are fair.

A
  • sample size
  • random selection
  • others must be able to replicate experiments
  • double blind testing
25
Q

Why do large sample sizes provide more reliable results?

A

Ensure that the effects of individual differences don’t matter

26
Q

3 benefits of random selection?

A

Reduces bias, greater reliability, fair test

27
Q

What does replicate mean?

A

A repeat of an experiment

28
Q

3 benefits of others being able to replicate experiments?

A

Ensure reliability
Verify results
Avoid bias

29
Q

What is double blind testing?

A

Neither the tester nor the subject knows who’s getting the drug

30
Q

Name the 5 limitations of the scientific method.

A
  1. Extent of our knowledge
  2. The basis of investigation
  3. Ability to interpret results
  4. Changes in the natural world
  5. Accidental discoveries
31
Q

What does ‘the extent of our knowledge’ mean?

A

Ability to form a hypothesis or design an experiment is dependent on amount we know relating to our observations

32
Q

What does ‘basis of investigation’ mean?

A

If an investigation is badly designed/carried out poorly it will not provide results as valid as they should be

33
Q

What does ‘ability to interpret results’ mean?

A

If results are interpreted wrong, faulty conclusions and hypotheses may be drawn

34
Q

What does ‘changes in the natural world’ mean?

A

Can lead to results that apply only to living things at a particular time.
Living things are constantly evolving.

35
Q

What does ‘accidental discoveries’ mean?

A

Insights found by accident

36
Q

Name 3 additional limitations of the scientific method?

A

Human error
Experimental design
Bias

37
Q

What does ethics mean?

A

Whether something is (morally) right or wrong

38
Q

Name 5 examples of ethical issues.

A
  • use of captive animals in experiments
  • cloning animals
  • medical issues (abortion, contraception)
  • freezing sperm and embryos of humans
  • organ transplants (especially from animals to humans)

Sam - Biology (23 decks)

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