BSC2005 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE: SCIENTIFIC
METHOD, BIOLOGY BASICS, AND PRACTICE EXAM
1. What is the primary focus of an observational study?
A) Manipulating variables in a controlled setting
B) Describing patterns of when, where, and how much
C) Establishing definitive causation between variables
D) Randomizing subjects into control groups
Rationale: The study guide defines observational studies as those that
show patterns by looking at when, where, how many, and how much.
2. Which type of study is specifically designed to demonstrate
causation?
A) Observational study
B) Experimental study
C) Natural experiment
D) Correlational study
Rationale: The study guide states that experimental studies, which
involve changing variables in a controlled environment, demonstrate
causation.
3. What is a defining characteristic of a natural experiment?
A) The researcher actively manipulates the independent variable
B) Subjects are randomly assigned to treatment groups
C) There is no direct manipulation of the variable, but groups differ
naturally
,D) It relies exclusively on qualitative data
Rationale: A natural experiment is characterized by no direct
manipulation of the variable, relying instead on naturally occurring
differences between groups.
4. Which scenario best illustrates a natural experiment?
A) A scientist randomly assigning mice to different diets
B) Banning smoking in a town and observing subsequent cancer
numbers
C) Conducting a survey to measure the correlation between exercise
and heart rate
D) Growing plants in a greenhouse under controlled light conditions
Rationale: The study guide uses the example of banning smoking in a
town and watching cancer numbers as a natural experiment.
5. What is the correct sequence of the scientific method?
A) Questions, Observations, Hypotheses, Testing, Predictions,
Conclusion
B) Observations, Questions, Hypotheses, Predictions, Testing,
Conclusion
C) Hypotheses, Observations, Predictions, Questions, Testing,
Conclusion
D) Observations, Hypotheses, Questions, Testing, Predictions,
Conclusion
Rationale: The study guide lists the steps as Observations, Questions,
Hypotheses, Predictions, Testing, and Conclusion.
6. In the scientific method, what directly follows the formulation of a
hypothesis?
A) Observations
,B) Testing
C) Predictions
D) Conclusion
Rationale: According to the study guide, predictions come after
hypotheses in the scientific method sequence.
7. What is a hypothesis?
A) A proven fact about the natural world
B) A final conclusion drawn from extensive testing
C) A tentative explanation for a scientific observation or question
D) A description of a natural pattern without explanation
Rationale: The study guide defines a hypothesis as a tentative
explanation for a scientific observation or question.
8. Which type of hypothesis states that there is a relationship
between variables?
A) Null hypothesis
B) Alternative hypothesis
C) Observational hypothesis
D) Experimental hypothesis
Rationale: The study guide notes that an alternative hypothesis states
there is a relationship.
9. What does a null hypothesis propose?
A) There is a strong relationship between variables
B) The experiment will definitely fail
C) There is no relationship between variables
D) The alternative hypothesis is correct
Rationale: The study guide states that a null hypothesis means there is
no relationship.
, 10. What does it mean for a hypothesis to be falsifiable?
A) It is impossible to test
B) It has already been proven true
C) It can be proven wrong
D) It relies on subjective opinions
Rationale: Falsifiable means it can be proven wrong, which is important
to avoid claiming something is true even if it isn't.
11. Why is falsifiability crucial in science?
A) It guarantees a hypothesis is correct
B) Without it, one could claim something is true even if it isn't
C) It makes the experiment easier to conduct
D) It eliminates the need for a control group
Rationale: The study guide emphasizes that without falsifiability, you
could claim something is true even if it isn't.
12. Can a scientific hypothesis ever be definitively proven?
A) Yes, after enough testing
B) Yes, if the sample size is large enough
C) No, it can never be proven, but it can be disproven
D) Yes, if it becomes a scientific law
Rationale: The study guide explicitly states a hypothesis can never be
proven, but it can be disproven.
13. What is the independent variable in an experiment?
A) The variable that is measured
B) The variable that remains constant
C) The variable that is changed by the researcher
D) The variable that is affected by the treatment
METHOD, BIOLOGY BASICS, AND PRACTICE EXAM
1. What is the primary focus of an observational study?
A) Manipulating variables in a controlled setting
B) Describing patterns of when, where, and how much
C) Establishing definitive causation between variables
D) Randomizing subjects into control groups
Rationale: The study guide defines observational studies as those that
show patterns by looking at when, where, how many, and how much.
2. Which type of study is specifically designed to demonstrate
causation?
A) Observational study
B) Experimental study
C) Natural experiment
D) Correlational study
Rationale: The study guide states that experimental studies, which
involve changing variables in a controlled environment, demonstrate
causation.
3. What is a defining characteristic of a natural experiment?
A) The researcher actively manipulates the independent variable
B) Subjects are randomly assigned to treatment groups
C) There is no direct manipulation of the variable, but groups differ
naturally
,D) It relies exclusively on qualitative data
Rationale: A natural experiment is characterized by no direct
manipulation of the variable, relying instead on naturally occurring
differences between groups.
4. Which scenario best illustrates a natural experiment?
A) A scientist randomly assigning mice to different diets
B) Banning smoking in a town and observing subsequent cancer
numbers
C) Conducting a survey to measure the correlation between exercise
and heart rate
D) Growing plants in a greenhouse under controlled light conditions
Rationale: The study guide uses the example of banning smoking in a
town and watching cancer numbers as a natural experiment.
5. What is the correct sequence of the scientific method?
A) Questions, Observations, Hypotheses, Testing, Predictions,
Conclusion
B) Observations, Questions, Hypotheses, Predictions, Testing,
Conclusion
C) Hypotheses, Observations, Predictions, Questions, Testing,
Conclusion
D) Observations, Hypotheses, Questions, Testing, Predictions,
Conclusion
Rationale: The study guide lists the steps as Observations, Questions,
Hypotheses, Predictions, Testing, and Conclusion.
6. In the scientific method, what directly follows the formulation of a
hypothesis?
A) Observations
,B) Testing
C) Predictions
D) Conclusion
Rationale: According to the study guide, predictions come after
hypotheses in the scientific method sequence.
7. What is a hypothesis?
A) A proven fact about the natural world
B) A final conclusion drawn from extensive testing
C) A tentative explanation for a scientific observation or question
D) A description of a natural pattern without explanation
Rationale: The study guide defines a hypothesis as a tentative
explanation for a scientific observation or question.
8. Which type of hypothesis states that there is a relationship
between variables?
A) Null hypothesis
B) Alternative hypothesis
C) Observational hypothesis
D) Experimental hypothesis
Rationale: The study guide notes that an alternative hypothesis states
there is a relationship.
9. What does a null hypothesis propose?
A) There is a strong relationship between variables
B) The experiment will definitely fail
C) There is no relationship between variables
D) The alternative hypothesis is correct
Rationale: The study guide states that a null hypothesis means there is
no relationship.
, 10. What does it mean for a hypothesis to be falsifiable?
A) It is impossible to test
B) It has already been proven true
C) It can be proven wrong
D) It relies on subjective opinions
Rationale: Falsifiable means it can be proven wrong, which is important
to avoid claiming something is true even if it isn't.
11. Why is falsifiability crucial in science?
A) It guarantees a hypothesis is correct
B) Without it, one could claim something is true even if it isn't
C) It makes the experiment easier to conduct
D) It eliminates the need for a control group
Rationale: The study guide emphasizes that without falsifiability, you
could claim something is true even if it isn't.
12. Can a scientific hypothesis ever be definitively proven?
A) Yes, after enough testing
B) Yes, if the sample size is large enough
C) No, it can never be proven, but it can be disproven
D) Yes, if it becomes a scientific law
Rationale: The study guide explicitly states a hypothesis can never be
proven, but it can be disproven.
13. What is the independent variable in an experiment?
A) The variable that is measured
B) The variable that remains constant
C) The variable that is changed by the researcher
D) The variable that is affected by the treatment
