Lab 1

Question 1

Steps of scientific method

Answer 1

1. Observe
2. Hypothesize (form question)
3. Test
4. Conclude

Question 2

Steps of the hypothetico-deductive method

Answer 2

1. Observe
2. Hypothesize (pose explanations)
3. Predict
4. Test
5. Conclude

Question 3

hypotheses categories

Answer 3

• exploratory
• explanatory
• model

Question 4

Exploratory hypotheses

Answer 4

essentially questions that a scientists wishes to answer

Question 5

Explanatory hypotheses

Answer 5

plausible explanations for observations or answers to how/why questions about those observations.

Question 6

hypothetico-deductive method (H-d method)

Answer 6

• One poses many explanations to explain an observation and then systematically eliminates poor explanations through deduction. (process of elimination)
• good at eliminating hypotheses that poorly explain
• no way of proving hypotheses true with 100% certainty.

Question 7

Model hypotheses

Answer 7

predictive statements about how nature should behave according to mathematical equations that are formulated based on certain biological/physical assumptions.

Question 8

Observations

Answer 8

first hand or published data. observations are data

Question 9

hypothesis

Answer 9

plausible explanation for an observation; provisional until tested

Question 10

inductive reasoning

Answer 10

reasoning from specific to general

Question 11

prediction

Answer 11

• logical explanation of what should be true if that hypothesis from which it was derived is true. (or not false)
• logical benchmarks to which test results can be objectively compared to conclude about a hypothesis.

Question 12

test

Answer 12

• systematic means of observation designed to assess if predictions are met or not.
• if the hypothesis from which the predictions were derived is likely false: falsified the hypothesis
• if results are consistent with predictions & statistically significant/likely not false: fails to falsify the hypothesis.

Question 13

conclude

Answer 13

• reject hypotheses falsified through testing

- accept those that we have failed to falsify through testing.

Question 14

correlation

Answer 14

relationship between two variables that is not one of functional dependence.

Question 15

causation

Answer 15

the change in magnitude of one variable (experimental) causes change in the magnitude of a second variable (dependent).

Question 16

experiment

Answer 16

manipulated variables in some subjects assess if the subjects respond as predicted by the hypothesis; must include 5 elements (less = quasi-experiment)

Question 17

experimental variable (EV)

Answer 17

variable suspected to cause change (cause),

Question 18

independent variable

Answer 18

suspected cause that cannot be altered (sex, age)

Question 19

dependent variable (DV)

Answer 19

variable that responds to the change in the magnitude of EV. (the effect)

Question 20

confounding variable

Answer 20

variables other than the EV that may impact the magnitude of the DV.

Question 21

controlled variable (CV)

Answer 21

prevented from impacting the DV

Question 22

standardized variables (SV)

Answer 22

impact is rendered equal or standardized for all subjects

Question 23

experimental group/trials

Answer 23

receive some level of the EV

Question 24

control group/trails

Answer 24

receive no level of EV; baseline for comparison