Lecture 3

Question 1

A scientific understanding of life and its environment is based on ?

Answer 1

Scientific method

Question 2

Scientific method is a process to ?

Answer 2

Produce reliable results
Used by scientists
Results in conclusions generalizations and scientific laws
Allows us to explain phenomenon and make predictions

Question 3

Hypothesis
Can be
If not disproved then

Answer 3

Proposed explanation made on limited evidence
Disproved
Still not proven true and only probably true

Question 4

Experiment

Answer 4

Carried it to verify hypothesis

Question 5

Science is a process of

Answer 5

Discovery

Question 6

Explain science as process of discovery

Answer 6

Continuing process to change ideas
Better approx. of how world works
Events in natural world follow patterns that can be understood through observation and scientific analysis

Question 7

A statement is deemed scientific when

No scientific when

Answer 7

If can state method by which it could be disproved

If no one can think of test to falsify it

Question 8

A valid scientific experiment keeps all ? Except

Answer 8

Variables constant

Independent and dependent

Question 9

Dependent variable

Answer 9

Variable not altered - responding variable

Question 10

Independent variable

Answer 10

Manipulated variable

Question 11

Controlled experiment

Answer 11

Duplicate which is compared back to standard or control
One variable is altered
This may cause hangs in another variable

Question 12

Scientific reasoning combines which to reasonings

Answer 12

Deductive and inductive

Question 13

Deductive

Answer 13

Process of reasoning from one or more premises to reach logically certain conclusion

Question 14

Proof using deductive reasoning does not require ?

Answer 14

The premises be true only that reasoning is foolproof

Question 15

Inductive

Proof of inductive reasoning

Answer 15

Broad generalizations based on number of observation

Stated in term of probability of occurrence

Question 16

Model

Examples

Answer 16

Only as good as data that goes into it

Physical working model
Pictorial
Set of math equations
Computer model

Question 17

Historical evidence

Answer 17

Meet primary requirement of scientific method

- major source that can be used to test hypothesis in ecology

Question 18

Measurement is when we add

What do measurements allow us to do

Answer 18

Numbers to our analysis

• disproved statement
• visualize relationships
• make predictions
• analyze strength of relationships

Question 19

Measurements are useless unless

Answer 19

Accompanied by estimate of their uncertainty -experimental error

Question 20

Accuracy

Answer 20

What we know

Extent to which a measurement agrees with accepted value

Question 21

Precision

Answer 21

How well we measure