The Scientific Method
What is the FIRST step to the scientific method?
Observation
What is Quantitative data?
observations that deal with numbers or amounts
Name two essential scientific attitudes that must be balanced ?
Open-mindedness and Skepticism
What is a controlled experiment? Why are they preferable?
An experiment in which only one variable is changed.
Controlled experiments allow scientists to isolate what variable is responsible for the results observed.
Define Biology?
The study of life
When must a hypothesis be made?
BEFORE any applicable research has been done, experiment is run, or data is collected.
What is Qualitative data?
observations that deal with descriptions that cannot be expressed by numbers.
How does science impact society?
Science influences decision-making, policy development, and societal progress through research and technological advancements.
Why is the metric system important in science?
It provides a standardized way to measure and communicate scientific data universally.
It is easy to use, based on multiples of 10
Allows scientists to replicate each others work safely and reliably .
Taken as a group, what must all living things do?
EVOLVE
A Hypothesis must be ____ & ____ .
specific and testable
What is the variable that is deliberately changed?
Independent
What is the purpose of peer review?
To evaluate and improve the quality and credibility of scientific research BEFORE it is published.
Scientists must consider the impact and associated risks of their research. What philosophical study is this referring to?
Ethics
What is considered the "blue print for life."
DNA , or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses.
What is the bonus 7th step to the Scientific Method? and why is it important?
Communication!
Important because it opens up option of peer review, where other scientists can fact-check work, and also communication builds our collective knowledge as a society.
What is the variable that is observed and that changes in response to the other variable?
Dependent
What inspires scientific investigations ?
Real world issues
What is bias?
Systematic error or distortion in data collection, analysis, interpretation, or presentation that skews results away from an accurate or objective representation.
What is homeostasis?
Ability of living organisms to maintain stable internal conditions
despite changes in the external environment.
What are the 6 steps to the scientific method, in order.
Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Analysis, Conclusion
What variables do you plot on the X and Y axis?
X - the independent (the cause, the manipulated variable)
Y- the dependent (the effect, response variable)
What is a scientific theory? Name one.
A well tested explanation for a wide range of observations and experimental results.
Theories allows scientists to make predictions of what they should observe if a theory is true.
A theory explains WHY something happens
Example- Evolution , Germ theory
What are THREE ways to improve experimental design?
What are the 8 main characteristics of Life?
- universal genetic code (DNA)
- grow and develop
- made of cells
- respond to their environment
- reproduce
- homeostasis
- metabolism - obtain and use energy
- EVOLUTION