Intro to Natural Science Mid Term Study
Guide
Steps in the scientific method - Answer -1. Make an observation and describe it
2. Form a question
3. Make a prediction and create a hypothesis
4. Plan and conduct experiment to test hypothesis
5. Gather data and analyze results
6. Draw Conclusions
What is scientific explanation - Answer -how or why something is the case. They are often identified with
causes.
What are two basic ways theories differ from hypotheses? - Answer -One difference is that a hypothesis
can be anything from a vague hunch to a finely detailed, though speculative, account of how or why
something has come to be the case where a theory may be a well-developed, well-confirmed body of
explanatory material. Another difference is that a hypothesis will typically offer an explanation for a
limited range of phenomena, single event, or fact, ahwere theories tend to be more general structures
capable of explaining a much wider variety of phenomena.
How does the claim that to sorts of events are correlated differ from the claim they are related to cause
and effect? - Answer -A correlation is nothing more than a comparison between a pair of characteristics
within a population. Correlation is seldom an all-or-nothing matter. A perfect correlation between two
characteristics would require a one-to-one correspondence between changes in the two. The fact that
two things are correlated does not indicate that the two are causally linked.
, What is the difference between a proximate and remote cause? - Answer -A proximate cause is an event
which is closest to or immediately responsible for causing some observed result where a remote cause is
when something happens later due to a proximate cause
Cause and effect - Answer -Effects can be the result of a combination of causes, both cause and effect
can be about groups rather than individuals, and effects may result from several distinct causes
Causal mechanism - Answer -nothing more than a series of proximate causes that intervene between a
remote cause and its effect.
underlying processes - Answer -do not attempt to "fill in the gap" between cause and effect by positing
intervening causes. They redescribe phenomena at a basic level.
Laws - Answer -There are 2 types of laws. The first is called a convention which is created and often
enforced to regulate human behavior. The second is scientific laws, which are generalized descriptions
of regularities that have been found to occur in some area of nature.
function - Answer -when we explain our behavior by reference to what we hope to achieve and they
often make reference to the purpose(s) of that which is being explained.
What is occams razor and how does it apply to competing explanations - Answer -Occam's Razor is given
competing explanations, any of which would, if true, explain a given puzzle, we should initially opt for
the explanation that contains the least number of puzzling notions.
What does theory laden mean? - Answer -loaded with theory and refers to observations of perceptions.
what is the relationship between predicted outcome and the claim being tested in a scientific
experiment - Answer -In order to guess on the predicted outcome of an experiment you first need a
claim, or hypothesis, as to what you want to experiment. Once that is set you can predict the outcome
and see if you were right in the end.
what are the two ways an experimental outcome can be compromised and how do they differ - Answer -
The way to minimize the possibility of a false confirmation is to set up experimental conditions that
Guide
Steps in the scientific method - Answer -1. Make an observation and describe it
2. Form a question
3. Make a prediction and create a hypothesis
4. Plan and conduct experiment to test hypothesis
5. Gather data and analyze results
6. Draw Conclusions
What is scientific explanation - Answer -how or why something is the case. They are often identified with
causes.
What are two basic ways theories differ from hypotheses? - Answer -One difference is that a hypothesis
can be anything from a vague hunch to a finely detailed, though speculative, account of how or why
something has come to be the case where a theory may be a well-developed, well-confirmed body of
explanatory material. Another difference is that a hypothesis will typically offer an explanation for a
limited range of phenomena, single event, or fact, ahwere theories tend to be more general structures
capable of explaining a much wider variety of phenomena.
How does the claim that to sorts of events are correlated differ from the claim they are related to cause
and effect? - Answer -A correlation is nothing more than a comparison between a pair of characteristics
within a population. Correlation is seldom an all-or-nothing matter. A perfect correlation between two
characteristics would require a one-to-one correspondence between changes in the two. The fact that
two things are correlated does not indicate that the two are causally linked.
, What is the difference between a proximate and remote cause? - Answer -A proximate cause is an event
which is closest to or immediately responsible for causing some observed result where a remote cause is
when something happens later due to a proximate cause
Cause and effect - Answer -Effects can be the result of a combination of causes, both cause and effect
can be about groups rather than individuals, and effects may result from several distinct causes
Causal mechanism - Answer -nothing more than a series of proximate causes that intervene between a
remote cause and its effect.
underlying processes - Answer -do not attempt to "fill in the gap" between cause and effect by positing
intervening causes. They redescribe phenomena at a basic level.
Laws - Answer -There are 2 types of laws. The first is called a convention which is created and often
enforced to regulate human behavior. The second is scientific laws, which are generalized descriptions
of regularities that have been found to occur in some area of nature.
function - Answer -when we explain our behavior by reference to what we hope to achieve and they
often make reference to the purpose(s) of that which is being explained.
What is occams razor and how does it apply to competing explanations - Answer -Occam's Razor is given
competing explanations, any of which would, if true, explain a given puzzle, we should initially opt for
the explanation that contains the least number of puzzling notions.
What does theory laden mean? - Answer -loaded with theory and refers to observations of perceptions.
what is the relationship between predicted outcome and the claim being tested in a scientific
experiment - Answer -In order to guess on the predicted outcome of an experiment you first need a
claim, or hypothesis, as to what you want to experiment. Once that is set you can predict the outcome
and see if you were right in the end.
what are the two ways an experimental outcome can be compromised and how do they differ - Answer -
The way to minimize the possibility of a false confirmation is to set up experimental conditions that
