Topic 2

Question 1

What is a theory?

Answer 1

• unifying explanations of the natural world.
• A scientific theory is a broad, natural explanation for a wide range of natural phenomena.
• They are strongly supported by many different lines of evidence, and are widely accepted as valid.
• Theory means “body of knowledge”, not hypothesis.

Question 2

How does a scientist conduct science? (Scientific Process)

Answer 2

• Scientists make observations, and then form and test hypotheses.
• making observations (collecting data), forming logical hypotheses, and testing the hypotheses.

Question 3

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 3

• draws conclusions through the logical process of induction
• repeating specific observations can lead to important generalizations
• in some cases, inductive reasoning is the only way we can make generalizations in biology.

Question 4

What is a scientific hypothesis?

Answer 4

• a tentative or proposed explanation for a set of observations based on the available data, and guided by inductive reasoning.
• knowledge-based.
• a hypothesis leads to predictions that are testable and falsifiable by observation and experimentation.

Question 5

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 5

• is used to make specific predictions that can be used to test hypotheses.
• uses general premises to make specific predictions.
• ‘if…, then…” logic

Question 6

a hypothesis can never be…

Answer 6

proven to be true.

• you can increase your confidence in your hypothesis by repeated testing
• failure to falsify a hypothesis does not prove the hypothesis is true.

Question 7

What is a controlled experiment?

Answer 7

• compares an experimental group with a control group.
• ideally, only the variable of interest differs between the two groups.
• a controlled experiment tests a hypothesis.

Question 8

What is the relationship between making observations and testing hypotheses?

Answer 8

• hypotheses are not formed unless observations suggest them.
• testing hypotheses via experimentation leads to new observations.

Question 9

What is correlation vs. casuation?

Answer 9

Correlation: relationship/association between two factors.

Correlation is not causation.