Scentific method
What is biology
Systematic study of the naturel world through obersation and experimentation
What is the scientific method
An approach to gaining knowledge grounded in evidence obtained through observation and experimentation
What are the two types of science
Descpritive science and hypothesis testing science
What is descriptive science
charactering patterns in the phycial and natural world
what is hypothesis testing science
aims to explain existing patterns by testing casual relationships
descriptive science is important because...
it provides patterns and may suggest possible explanations. usefull for hypothesis testing
Hypothesis testing science is important because
it interprets patterns and provides dircetions as to where to look for other patterns
what is induction
A form of reasoning that involves drawing general conclusions from specific observations or patterns.
just because inductive reasoning can lead to hypotheses
it does not guarantee that the conclusion is necessarily true
what is deduction
hypotheses and predictions
what is a hypothesis
a casual explanation for a given pattern or observation
what is a prediction
It states what will be observed under specific conditions if the hypothesis is true
a prediciton only exists...
within the context of an hypothesis and a particular study
the scientifi method uses deduction to derive
predictions and to test hypotheses
what is deduction
a from of reasoning from one or more general statements to a logical conlusion
V ou F. There is no uncertaintly to a deduction if premises are true so is conclusion
V
prediciton must follow deductivitely..
from hypotheses
what is a scientific hypothesis
a hypothesis that has to be possbile in theory
what is a refutable hypothesis
there are possible outcomes that are inconsistant with it
V ou F you cannot prove a hypothesis
V you can only disprove
what are the two types of scientific study
Observational and manipulative
what is observational study
researchers observe/characterize/measure without manipulation
what is a manipulative study
researchers actively change variables and compare outcomes on a unmanipulated group
what is inferential strength
a measure og how strongly a result supports conclusions
manipulative study have greater inferential strengh than
observational studies because they have less confouding variables. correlatino doesnt mean causation
what is a confounding variable
externals factors complicating interpretation of results
what is a control
expermimental procedure/treatment designed to minimize the effects of confounding variables
what is extrapolation
the process of drawing inferences/conclusions about a larger system based on observations made in a smaller or simplified model system
the more extrapolation that is required the lower...
the inferential strengh
observational studies oftenhave far less extrapolation than
manipulative studies
extrapolation examples
interspecies, experimental indicators, spatial and tempral scales, ect..
what is statistical hypothesis testing
Helps researchers determine if observed patterns in data are statistically significant and not due to random chance.
knowledge acuisition requires researchers to be
rational, skeptical, objective and methodologically materialistic
what is pseudo-science
studies that seek to only confirm beliefs. not science