CHAPTER ONE- SCIENTIFIC THINKING

Question 1

What is science?

Answer 1

a body of knowledge/ an intellectual activity encompassing- observation, description, experimentation, explanation of natural phenomenas/ pathway to understand the world/ study of living things – pathway by which we can discover and understand the world around us

Question 2

Scientific literacy

Answer 2

a general, fact based understanding of biology and other sciences

Question 3

Biological literacy

Answer 3

essential to modern world– ability to use the process of scientific inquiry to think creatively about real world issues that have a biological component, communicate these thoughts to others, integrate ideas into your own decision making

Question 4

superstition

Answer 4

irrational belief that actions that are not logically related to a course of events that influence the outcome

Question 5

Scientific method

Answer 5

process for examination and study

Question 6

empirical in nature

Answer 6

based on experience and observations that are rational, testable and repeatable

Question 7

self correcting

Answer 7

incorrect ideas are discarded in favor of more accurate explanations

Question 8

flexible

Answer 8

adaptable, may have to change ones beliefs when data does not support a hypthesis

Question 9

Scientific Method Step 1

Answer 9

make observations- look for cause and effect relationship

Question 10

Scientific Method Step 2

Answer 10

formulate hypothesis- proposed explanation for observed phenomena

Question 11

hypothesis

Answer 11

proposed explanation for phenomena

Question 12

null hypothesis

Answer 12

a negative statement proposing there is no relationship between two factors

Question 13

Scientific Method Step 3

Answer 13

devise a testable prediction

Question 14

Scientific Method Step 4

Answer 14

conduct a critical experiment- makes it possible to decisively determine if hypothesis is correct

Question 15

Scientific Method Step 5

Answer 15

draw conclusions– look for patterns and relationships in data

Question 16

theory

Answer 16

hunch, guess, speculation– a hypothesis that has withstood test of time and is unlikely to be altered by new evidence

Question 17

scientific theory

Answer 17

a hypothesis for which scientists are most certain

Question 18

Cell theory

Answer 18

all organisms are composed of cells/ all cells come from pre-existing cells

Question 19

Theory of evolution by natural selection

Answer 19

species change overtime/ all species are related to one another through a common ancestor

Question 20

common elements to most experiments - treatment

Answer 20

an experimental condition applied to research subjects

Question 21

common elements to most experiments - experimental group

Answer 21

a group of subjects that have been exposed to a particular treatment

Question 22

common elements to most experiments - control group

Answer 22

treated identical to experimental group with one exception, they are not exposed to treatment

Question 23

common elements to most experiments - variables

Answer 23

the characteristics of an experimental system that are subject to change

Question 24

Placebo effect

Answer 24

a frequently observed, poorly understood phenomena in which people respond favorably to any treatment

Question 25

blind experimental design

Answer 25

experimental subjects do not know which treatment (if any) they are receiving

Question 26

double blind experiment

Answer 26

neither the experimental subject nor the experimenter know which treatment the subject is receiving

Question 27

randomized

Answer 27

subjects are randomly assigned into experimental and control groups

Question 28

reproducibility

Answer 28

conduct an experiment repeatedly with large numbers of subjects to determine validity of experiment

Question 29

independent variable

Answer 29

some visible entity that is available at the start of the process and whose value can be changed

Question 30

dependent variable

Answer 30

created by the process of being observed, usually changes with response to independent variable

Question 31

pseudoscience

Answer 31

scientific sounding claims not supported by trustworthy methodical scientific studies

Question 32

anecdotal observation

Answer 32

based on one or a few observations people conclude that there is or is not a link between two things

Question 33

hierarchical organization

Answer 33

life is organized on many levels within individual organizations/ organisms are organized into many levels

Question 34

the power of evolution

Answer 34

change in genetic characteristics of individuals within populations over time accounts for diversity and unity of organisms