1A1 Nature of Science Flashcards
Understand scientific knowledge develops by exploring how concepts evolve over time, and how laws, theories, and models are used to explain and test ideas.
What is the primary goal of science?
To understand and explain natural phenomena.
Scientific research helps explain why seasons change, how gravity works, or why cells divide, making complex processes in nature predictable and understandable.
Define:
scientific hypothesis
A testable idea or prediction.
If you hypothesize that sunlight makes plants grow faster, you can test this by exposing plants to different amounts of sunlight and comparing their growth.
What are the main steps of the scientific method?
- Observe
- Ask a question
- Form a hypothesis
- Experiment
- Analyze results
- Draw conclusions
The scientific method is a systematic approach to investigating questions about the natural world.
What should researchers do after collecting data?
Analyze the data and make inferences to draw conclusions.
Data analysis involves comparing results with previous research to understand outcomes and make accurate conclusions. This step helps confirm findings or reveals new questions for future research.
Fill in the blank:
A consistent natural pattern without explanation is a ___________.
scientific law
Newton’s law of gravity, for example, describes the attraction between masses but does not explain the cause of gravity. Laws can often be expressed in mathematical formulas, like 𝐹=𝑚𝑎, which states that force equals mass times acceleration.
How is a theory different from a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is unproven, whereas a theory has been repeatedly tested and validated.
Hypotheses are like options on a multiple-choice test—they need testing to see if they’re correct. A theory is like the answer key; it’s been confirmed by experiments and evidence.
What is a non-scientific theory?
Guesses without evidence.
Unlike scientific theories, non-scientific theories are not tested, verified, or accepted in the scientific community, making them more speculative than factual.
Conspiracy theories are considered non-scientific because they often rely on untestable claims, personal beliefs, or anecdotal evidence rather than empirical evidence that can be measured.
What is empirical data?
Information that is verifiable by observation and/or experience.
Empirical data are crucial for supporting or rejecting a hypothesis. It’s data you can observe directly or measure, such as counting the number of plants that grow in sunlight compared to shade to test how light affects plant growth.
True or False:
Science never changes its ideas.
False
Science is dynamic and continually evolving. When new evidence contradicts old ideas, scientists adjust theories to fit the new data.
What does background research involve?
Researching the topic using credible sources.
It helps you learn what has already been studied about a topic. It involves reviewing past experiments, scientific papers, or other reliable sources, like finding out what’s been discovered about how exercise impacts heart health before conducting your own study.
Define:
Pilot study
A small-scale preliminary study conducted before a full research project.
Pilot studies help researchers test their methods, identify potential problems, and refine their approach before investing in a larger study.
For example, testing a new teaching method with one class before implementing it across an entire school.
Define:
Dogma
An unquestioned belief that isn’t tested or open to change.
Unlike scientific knowledge, which evolves through testing and evidence, dogmas are fixed ideas that are often accepted without question.
For centuries, many believed the sun revolved around Earth until Copernicus and Galileo proved otherwise.
Why is reproducibility important in science?
It confirms that results are consistent and reliable.
Reproducibility means that an experiment’s results can be replicated by other scientists, which is essential to validating the findings.
If a study shows a new medication is effective, other researchers should be able to achieve the same results with similar trials.
How does science encourage new discoveries?
By questioning and testing existing ideas.
Science advances by challenging existing knowledge, exploring new questions, and testing assumptions.
Penicillin’s discovery shows how curiosity and testing lead to breakthroughs. Experiments and evidence have produced medical treatments, technologies, and theories that improve life.
Fill in the blank:
Pseudoscience promotes ideas that do not follow the _______.
Scientific method
Psuedoscience lacks rigorous testing and relies on beliefs, often presenting unverified claims as facts.
Astrology, for instance, suggests that stars affect human behavior, but it lacks testable evidence and does not adhere to the scientific method.
What is the role of statistics in science?
To analyze and interpret data accurately.
Statistics help scientists analyze and interpret data through various methods including descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode), and inferential statistics (hypothesis testing, confidence intervals).
What p-value commonly indicates statistical significance?
0.05
A p-value of 0.05 indicates a 5% chance that the observed results occurred by random chance. Researchers often use this threshold to determine if their findings are statistically significant.
Which measure shows the most frequent value in a dataset?
Mode
The mode represents the most common value within a dataset. It is particularly useful for categorical data or when identifying the most frequent occurrence is important, such as the most common test score in a class.
For example, in the dataset of test scores {85, 90, 92, 85, 88, 85, 91}, the mode is 85, as it appears more frequently than any other score.
What is the purpose of peer review in scientific research?
To ensure research quality and accuracy.
Peer review allows other experts to evaluate and verify a study before publication, helping to prevent errors, bias, or faulty conclusions.
True or False:
Science can achieve absolute certainty.
False
Science seeks high probability rather than certainty, as knowledge evolves with new evidence.
Define:
Scientific model
A simplified representation of something complex.
Scientific models assist scientists in explaining and studying complex systems by focusing on key aspects while omitting less relevant details.
What is the first step in solving any scientific problem?
Making observations.
Observations involve noticing details and gathering information about a phenomenon.
For example, observing that plants lean toward sunlight can lead to questions about how light affects growth.
What is the role of ethics in scientific research?
It ensures research respects rights and is responsible.
Ethical guidelines help prevent harm, ensure informed consent, and foster integrity in scientific research.
What is the purpose of accessing prior knowledge in research?
To understand what is already known about the topic.
Reviewing existing knowledge enables scientists build on past discoveries. For example, reading about similar experiments or theories can guide new research and avoid repeating what’s already known.
How can categorization help in scientific research?
It helps organize findings into known groups.
Categorization helps scientists in grouping data into categories like force or momentum, making it easier to understand patterns, compare new findings, and build on existing knowledge.
Define:
Inference
A conclusion drawn based on evidence and reasoning.
Inferences enable scientists predict outcomes or make educated guesses.
For instance, if plants grow faster with sunlight, scientists might infer that light is crucial for photosynthesis, even before fully testing it.
Fill in the blank:
Scientific inquiry is based on making ______ and asking questions.
observations
Observation is the foundation of scientific inquiry, as it allows scientists to collect information, recognize patterns, and formulate questions for investigation.
Fill in the blank:
Data measured and expressed numerically is called ________ _____.
quantitative data
Quantitative data consists of numbers that can be analyzed to identify patterns and trends, making it easier to draw clear and objective conclusions.
True or False:
Larger samples don’t improve result reliability.
False
Larger sample sizes reduce errors, making results more reliable and generalizable. This is why large-scale clinical trials, involving thousands of participants, yield more reliable data on the effects of new medications than small studies.
How can biases affect scientific experiments?
They can lead to prejudices that impact data interpretation.
Biases, whether conscious or unconscious, can affect how scientists design experiments, collect data, or interpret results.
For example, if a researcher believes a drug will work, they might unintentionally focus on results that support this belief, skewing the findings and affecting the experiment’s validity.
True or False:
Falsifiability is the ability to prove a hypothesis wrong with evidence.
True
A statement must be testable and potentially falsifiable to be considered scientific; this distinguishes science from beliefs or opinions.
Einstein’s General Relativity predicted light bending around the sun, confirmed during the 1919 eclipse; otherwise, it would’ve been falsified.
What happens if new evidence disproves a scientific theory?
The theory is modified to include the new data.
Scientific theories are adaptable and may change as new evidence emerges.
For example, the atomic theory evolved as scientists discovered subatomic particles, demonstrating that theories grow and improve with new findings.
True or False:
A theory eventually becomes a law.
False
A theory explains why something occurs, while a law describes what happens. While theories can help explain patterns observed in laws, they don’t transform into laws themselves.
Fill in the blank:
The law of conservation states that energy can’t be ______.
created or destroyed
The principle of energy conservation states that energy doesn’t disappear; it can only change from one form to another.
