unit 1 - nature of science Flashcards
observations vs inferences
observations are descriptions, measurements and records but inferences are educated guesses/conclusions mode from observations
steps of scientific method
observe, hypothesize, predict, test, analyze, accept/reject/or modify hypothesis
5 ways scientific knowledge is different from other knowledge
1, natural world, 2, based on experimental/observational evidence, 3, subject to “independent validation and peer review”, 4, open to challenge by evidence, 5, self-correcting
why is science constantly changing
it is always open to challenge since ideas get proven wrong and new info is being observed/tested
what is a hypothesis
informed, logical and plausible explanation for observations (constructed to make predictions: if… then)
controlled experiment
measures dependent variable with the only change being the independent variable
why can’t a hypothesis be “proven”
there will always be extraneous (untested) factors/variables
independent vs dependent variable
independent-changed/manipulated
dependent-changes based on IV changes
qualitative data
based on qualities-descriptions not numbers
quantitative data
expressed as numbers
levels of biological organization (smallest to largest)
atom, molecule, macromolecule, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere
scientific claim
a statement about how the natural world works that can be tested using the scientific method
correlation
2 or more aspects of the natural world that happen to behave in an interrelated matter (relates)
causation
relation that shows one change leads to another change (causes)
pseudoscience
exaggerated claims under the false label of “science” typically biased and promoting false info
