Chapter 2 Botkins and Keller

Question 1

What are the two ways of thinking about the environment

Answer 1

• The kind of thinking we do in everyday life
• the thinking scientists try to do

Question 2

What is the key to science

Answer 2

It is generrally agreed today that the essence of the scientific method is Disprovability

Question 3

What is the difference between observation and interence

Answer 3

Observation: the basis of science, may be made through any of the five senses or by instruments.

Inferences are generalizations that arise from a set of observations. When everyone or almost eceryon agrees with what is observed about a particular thing. Inference is ofteen called a fact.

“we might observe thta substance is a white, chrystalline material with sweet taste. we might infere that this substance is sugar.”

Question 4

What is the def of a hypothesis

Answer 4

is a statement that can be disproved. The hypothesis continues to be accepted until it is disproved

Question 5

Dependent and independent variable

Answer 5

The independent variable is the cause. Its value is independent of other variables in your study.

The dependent variable is the effect. Its value depends on changes in the independent variable.

Question 6

Manipulated and responding variable

Answer 6

A manipulated variable (sometimes called the independent variable) is a factor or condition that is intention- ally changed by an investigator in an experiment.

A responding or dependent variable is a factor or condition that might be affected as a result of that change.

Question 7

What kind of data is quantitative data

Answer 7

numerical data

Question 8

What kind of data is qualitative data

Answer 8

non-nummerical data

Question 9

what is controlling variables?

Answer 9

In testing a hypothesis, a scientist tries to keep all relevant variables constant except for the independent and dependent variables.

this practice is known as controlling variables

Question 10

What is frequently overlooked in decriptions of the scientific methods

Answer 10

is the need to define or describe variables in exact terms that all scientists can understand.

Question 11

What is an operational definintion

Answer 11

Before carrying out an experiment, both the independent and the dependent variables must be defined operationally. Operational definitions allow other scientists to repeat experiments exactly and to check on the results reported.

Question 12

What is inductive reasoning (induction)

Answer 12

Inductive reasoning is a logical approach to making inferences, or conclusions. People often use inductive reasoning informally in everyday situations

Question 13

Definition of Scientific theory

Answer 13

a gran scheme that relates and explaines many observations and is supported by a great deal of evidence.

theories have tremendous prestige and are considered the greatest achievements of science.

Question 14

what is a model?

Answer 14

“a deliberatly simplified construct of nature”

it may be a a physical working model. a pictorial model, a set of mathematical equations or a computer simulation

Question 15

what are some alternatives to direct experimentation

Answer 15

• Historical evidence
• Modern catastrophes and disturbance as experiments

Question 16

uncertainty in science

Answer 16

as lead to many misunderstandings.

some discoveries have been done by accidents like for example antibiotics. However, it takes skills and knowledge to discover such accidents.

Question 17

What are thee two sources of uncertainty

Answer 17

• the real variability of naturee
• that every measurement has some error

Question 18

What are experimental errors

Answer 18

measurement uncertainties and other errors that occurs in experiments-

Question 19

what are systematic errors?

Answer 19

errors that occurr consistently, such as those resulting from incorrectly calibrated instumenets.

Question 20

Is uncertainty positive?

Answer 20

scientists traditionally include an discussion of experimental errors as is leads to a greater understanding and sometimes discoveries.

thats how they discovered neptun :)

Question 21

Accuracy and precision

Answer 21

Accuracy refers to what we know
precision to how well we measure

Question 22

the process of decision making

Answer 22

1. Formrulate a clear statement of the issue to be decided
2. gather the scientific information elated to the issue
3. list all the alternative courses of action
4. Predict the positive and negative consequences of each couse of action and the probability that each consequence will occur
5. weigh the alternatives and chose the best solution

Question 23

Science and technology

Answer 23

• often confused with one another
• technology is a result of science not the other way around.
• science is limited to the technology around it

Question 24

Science and Objectivity

Answer 24

• objectivity in science is the goal
• it is a myth that science is objective
• soem contrroversies: genetic engineering, nuclear power and global warming.
• we can neve really escape biases

Question 25

What is pseudodcientific

Answer 25

ideas presented as scientific that are not science as they are inherently untesteble, lack empericle support or based on faulty reasoning.

Question 26

what obstacles does environmental science offer?

Answer 26

• the long time frame of many ecological processes relative to human lifeetimes
• professional lifetimes
• the lengths of research grants
• difficulties in experimental contols