Chapter 1 Flashcards
(106 cards)
independent variable
variable or factor being deliberately changed in the experimental group.ex coffee consumption
dependent variable
the outcome that ma depend on coffee consumption ex memory tests
sample size
number of experimental subjects orr number ot times the experiment is repeated. in human studies sample size is the number of participants.
statistical significance
measure of confidence that the results obtained are real and not due to chance
scientific theory
explanation of the natural world that is supported by a large body of evidence and has never been disproved
epidemiology
the study of patterns of disease in populations including risk factors
correlation
consistent relationship between two variables
Cancer
Disease of unregulated cell division. Cells divide inappropriately and accumulate in some instances forming a tumor
Chemotherapy
Treatment of disease specifically cancer by the use of chemicals
Mitosis
Segregation and separation of duplicated chromosomes during cell division
Cytokinesis
Physical division cell into two daughter cells
Apoptosis
Programmed cell death often refered to as cellular suicide.
Tumor
Mass of cells resulting from uncontrolled cell division
Metastasis
Spread of cancer cells from one location in the body to another
Radiation therapy
Use of ionizing high energy radiation to treat cancer
anecdotal evidence
informal observstion that has not been scientifically tested. ex a poll of your classmates
hypothesis
tentative explanation for a scientifiec observation of question. must be testable and falsifiable. ex coffee helps imorove memory
experimental group
group in experiment that experiences the experiamntal interention or manipulation. ex the group with the coffee
control group
group in experiment that expeirences not experimental intervention or manipulation. ex the group with the coffee.
placebo
fake treatment given to control group that mimics the epperience of the experimental group. ex liqiud that is dark and bitter but is not coffee
six steps of scientific investigation
observe, study peer reviews, make scientific hypothesis, carry out controlled ezperiments, analyze experimental data, make conclusions
why only one variable?
that way you know what you are testing
what other variables might you want to control?
activity, gender, age, diseases
why is sample size important
it can rule out chances. the bigger the sample size the more statistical significance