The Scientific Method Flashcards
Biology is the study of?
Living things
Microbiology is the study of?
Study of small living things
What is the scientific method?
Is a process of investigation in which problems are identified and their suggested explanations are tested by carrying out experiments.
Name 7 steps of scientific method.
Observation,
Hypothesis,
Experimentation,
Collection and interpretation of data,
Conclusion,
Relating the conclusion to existing knowledge,
Reporting and publishing the results.
What does ‘observation’ involve?
When something is noticed
Definition of hypothesis?
proposed (or possible) explanation for an observation
What does ‘experimentation’ involve?
Is designed to test a hypothesis
What does ‘collection and interpretation of data’ involve?
The information obtained during experimentation is collected, recorded, analysed
What does ‘conclusion’ involve?
Is a statement of the interpretation of the results.
What does ‘relating the conclusion to existing knowledge’ involve?
The conclusion of an experiment should tie in with existing knowledge of the topic being examined
What does ‘reporting and publishing the results’ involve?
Info is made available
Spread knowledge
Peer review
Publish work
Name 2 ways to publish results.
Scientific journal or world wide web
What’s a theory?
A hypothesis that’s been supported by many different experiments
What’s a principle of law?
Arises from a theory that’s been shown to be valid when fully tested over a long period of time
What is an experiment?
A test for a hypothesis
What is a variable?
A factor that may change in an experiment
Name the 4 principles of experimentation.
- Careful planning and design
- Ensure experiment is safe
- Design a control experiment
- Experiments must be fair
In most experiments what is tested?
Only a single factors or one variable
All other variables in an experiment should be?
Kept constant
Give 5 safety features.
- 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
What is a control?
Used to provide a comparison
Name a pill used for a control group.
Placebo
What is a placebo?
Eg: neither patients or medical staff know who is getting the placebo and who’s getting the real drug
Give 4 factors to ensure experiments are fair.
- sample size
- random selection
- others must be able to replicate experiments
- double blind testing
Why do large sample sizes provide more reliable results?
Ensure that the effects of individual differences don’t matter
3 benefits of random selection?
Reduces bias, greater reliability, fair test
What does replicate mean?
A repeat of an experiment
3 benefits of others being able to replicate experiments?
Ensure reliability
Verify results
Avoid bias
What is double blind testing?
Neither the tester nor the subject knows who’s getting the drug
Name the 5 limitations of the scientific method.
- Extent of our knowledge
- Basis of investigation
- Ability to interpret results
- Application to nature
- Accidental discoveries
- Human error
- Experimental design
- Bias
What does ‘the extent of our knowledge’ mean?
Ability to form a hypothesis or design an experiment is dependent on amount we know relating to our observations
What does ‘basis of investigation’ mean?
If an investigation is badly designed/carried out poorly it will not provide results as valid as they should be
What does ‘ability to interpret results’ mean?
If results are interpreted wrong, faulty conclusions and hypotheses may be drawn
What does ‘changes in the natural world’ mean?
Can lead to results that apply only to living things at a particular time.
Living things are constantly evolving.
What does ‘accidental discoveries’ mean?
Insights found by accident
Name 3 additional limitations of the scientific method?
Human error
Experimental design
Bias
What does ethics mean?
Whether something is (morally) right or wrong
Name 5 examples of ethical issues.
- 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)
