Biology I Exam #1 Study Guide | Scientific Method,
Experiments & Variables
5 steps of scientific method
1. observation
2. question
3. hypothesis
4. experiment
5. conclusion
observation
act of viewing the world around us
question
made based off of an observation
hypothesis
a tentative explanation for an observation
controlled experiment
- test several groups
- introduce a single variable per treatment
- keep conditions as similar as possible from one group to the next
conclusion
supports/refutes hypothesis
- more experimentation needed if refuted
prediction
a guess of what might happen based on observation-- the outcome you would observe if your
hypothesis was supported
theory
a sound explanation of the world supported through continued observation and experiments
over a long period of time
3 components of a controlled experiment
, 1. variable
2. test group
3. control group
variable
feature of an experiment that is changed from one treatment to the next
test group
exposed to variable in an experiment
control group
not exposed to the variable in an experiment
importance of test group & control group
they allow researchers to determine whether the variable in an experiment has an effect
independent variable
manipulation performed on the test group
(ex. hours of tutoring)
which axis is the independent variable found on a graph?
x-axis
dependent variable
effect that is being measured
(ex. test score)
which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph?
y-axis
theory of evolution
set of hypotheses that provide a powerful explanation for both biological observations & the
diversity of life
why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most important theory in all of
biology?
there's lots of evidence from asking/testing good scientific questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
Experiments & Variables
5 steps of scientific method
1. observation
2. question
3. hypothesis
4. experiment
5. conclusion
observation
act of viewing the world around us
question
made based off of an observation
hypothesis
a tentative explanation for an observation
controlled experiment
- test several groups
- introduce a single variable per treatment
- keep conditions as similar as possible from one group to the next
conclusion
supports/refutes hypothesis
- more experimentation needed if refuted
prediction
a guess of what might happen based on observation-- the outcome you would observe if your
hypothesis was supported
theory
a sound explanation of the world supported through continued observation and experiments
over a long period of time
3 components of a controlled experiment
, 1. variable
2. test group
3. control group
variable
feature of an experiment that is changed from one treatment to the next
test group
exposed to variable in an experiment
control group
not exposed to the variable in an experiment
importance of test group & control group
they allow researchers to determine whether the variable in an experiment has an effect
independent variable
manipulation performed on the test group
(ex. hours of tutoring)
which axis is the independent variable found on a graph?
x-axis
dependent variable
effect that is being measured
(ex. test score)
which axis is the dependent variable found on a graph?
y-axis
theory of evolution
set of hypotheses that provide a powerful explanation for both biological observations & the
diversity of life
why do we learn that the theory of evolution is the single most important theory in all of
biology?
there's lots of evidence from asking/testing good scientific questions
(ex. anatomy, fossil record, biogeography, molecular biology)
