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1. Scientific thinking, what is it for? and
be able to use it
- empirical (based on observations and
experiences not solely logic)
- self correcting
- observation
scientific thinking - hypotheses
- predictions
- experiments
- conclusions (modify hypotheses, and
continue the process)
- organized
- empirical
- methodical
scientific method - structured way of finding information
about observable events in nature
- lets us reject hypotheses about how the
world works
1. make observations
2. formulate hypotheses - is it testable?
refutable?
3. make a prediction
4. conduct an experiment - control all
steps of the scientific method variables BUT one, randomized, double
blind
5. analyze results, draw a conclusion
(if evidence disproves hypothesis, con-
struct a new hypothesis)
6. report results
is the scientific method flexible? yes! it doesn't have to be step by step
put a hypothesis to the test, the results
what does a "critical experiment" do can decisively determine whether a hy-
pothesis is correct
- does it rain more on weekends?
class examples of scientific method - real vs artificial vanilla
- "maze bright" vs "maze dull" rats
class example: does it rain more on
weekends?
,- find average Monday and Saturday
rainfall; rains 22% more on Saturdays
- hypothesis: particular matter from car
exhaust builds up during the week lead-
ing to cloud formation and then rain on
the weekends
- experiment: collect data from some-
where with no cars (ocean)
- results: there is equal rainfall on each
day in the ocean, PROVING that car ex-
haust affects the trend of more rain on
weekends
- Phelan baked batches of cookies with
real vanilla and with artificial vanilla
class example: real vs artificial vanilla in
- asked wife which one tasted better
chocolate chip cookies
- concluded that there was no difference
in taste between the types of vanilla used
- have "maze dull" and "maze bright"
mice
- with each generation, test all mice for
maze learning ability and breed only the
top 20% and bottom 20%
class example: is maze running genetic - observe new generations
in mice? - conclusion: over time, the extremes got
more and more exaggerated
- maze running is not genetic but the
allele for fear is in mice; less fear = solve
maze quicker, more fear = solve maze
slower
- randomize subjects
- control your study
how to increase experiment's power - use a double-blind design
R.C.D. - rat's cause diseases
what is the cost-benefit analysis of hav- it's a poorer model of the situation of
ing a more controlled experiment? interest
2. How does a hypothesis differ from a
theory or prediction?
, - a prediction only offers a guess of what
will happen in the future
- a theory is a widely accepted idea that
has serious evidence behind it, backing
it up; ex: theory of evolution
- a hypothesis is a proposed explanation
for observed phenomena
- a hypothesis must generate testable
predictions
- theories are generally broader than hy-
potheses
- a hypothesis that states a lack of rela-
tionship between 2 factors
- easy to disprove
null hypothesis
ex: Echinacea has NO effect on the likeli-
hood of catching the common cold or the
duration of the symptoms of a cold
is it possible to prove a hypothesis is
no it's impossible
absolutely and permanently true?
- make sure there are no underlying
differenced between the experimental
groups
3. What does it mean to control an exper-
- change only ONE variable at a time
iment?
- treat all subject the same except for the
one deviation which would not get the
treatment and be the control group
an experimental condition applied to re-
treatments
search subjects
experimental group subject group exposed to the treatment
subject group EXACTLY like the exper-
control group imental group except they are NOT ex-
posed to the treatment
- characteristics of an experiment that
variables
are subject to change