Goals & Scientific Methodology
What is the primary goal of science?
To provide testable explanations and understand patterns in order to better comprehend the world around us.
This part of an experiment is deliberately manipulated or changed by the scientist.
Independent Variable
The debate over spontaneous generation focused on whether living organisms could arise from this.
Non-living matter
A scientist wants to understand if sunlight affects plant growth. The amount of light given to each plant represents this component.
Independent Variable
True or false?
Scientists often discard their hypotheses after one experiment if they do not yield positive results.
False
This step of scientific methodology involves the act of noticing (using the senses) and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way.
Observation
This part of an experiment is the factor that is measured or observed to see how it responds to changes
Dependent Variable
By showing that maggots only appeared when adult flies had access to meat, this scientist made an early contribution against spontaneous generation.
Francisco Redi
When measuring how fast a plant grows over three weeks in response to sunlight, the plant's height represents this experimental component.
Dependent Variable
What is the term for a logical interpretation based on observations & prior knowledge?
Inference
This part of the methodology is a logical interpretation or conclusion based on prior knowledge rather than direct observation.
Inference
To ensure a fair test, scientists keep these parts of an experiment constant across all setups.
Controlled variables
He supported spontaneous generation after finding microorganisms in boiled broth, though later scientists noted his boiling process was flawed.
Who was John Needham?
A researcher keeps all test plants in the same soil, at the same temperature, and gives them equal amounts of water. How does the scientist use these parts?
Controlled variables
What is a theory, and is a theory always 100% accurate?
A well-tested, highly reliable scientific explanation for a range of phenomena. It unifies many repeated observations and incorporates durable, well-supported hypotheses. Scientific theories can be revised or replaced if new evidence emerges, but they represent the best current understanding of the natural world.
Before testing begins, a scientist proposes this tentative, testable explanation for an observation
Hypothesis
A scientist uses this part of the experiment as a baseline for comparison because it does not receive the experimental treatment.
This scientist challenged Needham’s findings by proving that sealed, thoroughly boiled broth remained free of microbes.
Who was Lazzaro Spallanzani?
In a drug trial, one group receives the real medicine and another receives a fake pill. The group getting the fake pill serves this experimental purpose.
Control group
Name the acronym and steps to designing an experiment.
- Question – Define the problem or what you want to learn.
- Research – Gather information about the topic.
- Hypothesis – Make an educated guess or prediction.
- Experiment – Test your hypothesis with a procedure.
- Data – Collect and analyze the results.
- Conclusion – Summarize what you learned and see if your hypothesis was correct.
Information gathered during an experiment, which can be either numerical or descriptive is called this + name the two types.
Data, qualitative (descriptions), quantitative (#s)
This part of the setup receives the actual treatment or modified independent variable being tested.
Experimental group
He permanently settled the debate by showing air could enter a flask without introducing microbes, proving life comes from pre-existing life.
Who was Louis Pasteur?
A scientist notices discolored leaves, assumes a fungus is causing it, sets up a controlled test, and records leaf counts. Name the 4 methodology parts shown here in order.
Observation, Inference/Hypothesis, Experimentation (Design), and Data collection
What are the 8 characteristics of living things?