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Scientific Method
The Nature of Science
Cures for disease Explains what our world is like Solve environmental problems Use and discover new technology
Biologist reason in 2 ways:
1. Deductively 2. Inductively
Deductive Reasoning
Applies general principles to predict specific results.
Example: determining the species of a specimen from its characteristics
If A then B type of reasoning, used in math and philosophy
Inductive Reasoning:
Logic flows from the specific to the general Example: Cats have fur, dogs have fur, and
every mammal you observe has fur, then you may infer that all mammals have hair.
How Science Is Done
1. Question or Observation 2. Hypothesis 3. Controlled Experiment 4. Make Predictions 5. Develop Theory Hypotheses are accepted or rejected based
on experimental results.
Establishing Controls (variables)
Independent Variable: the investigator manipulates (fertilizer on plants)
Dependent Variable: the outcome or results (did the plants grow taller, greener or faster than the group without fertilizer)
Using Predictions
A hypothesis is most useful when it makes predictions, because predictions provide a way to test the validity of the hypothesis
If experimental results are inconsistent with the predictions then the hypothesis must be rejected.
If experimental results are consistent with the predictions then the hypothesis must be accepted.
Fig. 1.4
Observation
Question
Experiment
Hypothesis 1Hypothesis 2Hypothesis 3Hypothesis 4Hypothesis 5
Potentialhypotheses
Remainingpossiblehypotheses
Last remainingpossible hypothesis
Rejecthypotheses
1 and 4
Rejecthypotheses
2 and 3Experiment
Hypothesis 2Hypothesis 3Hypothesis 5
Hypothesis 5
Predictions
Predictionsconfirmed
Experiment 1 Experiment 2 Experiment 3 Experiment 4
Fig. 1.4(TE Art)
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Basic vs Applied Research
Basic research expands the boundaries of what we know and is usually performed at Universities
Applied research is conducted by scientists in industry. Example food additives, new drugs, testing environmental quality
Fig. 1.A
Read page 7
How Biologists
Do Their Work
Homework
https://glacier.gc.maricopa.edu/biology/scientific_method/index.cfm
Do this activity on your computer! Click continue to start Enter your name or initials Do the tutorial part first then the cricket
experiment This is a lot of fun!
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