BIO 156 Exam Review Questions with Verified
Correct Answers
What is the definition of "Biology"?
Biology is the scientific study of life and organisms
ESSAY:
1. Create a carefully worded and precise RQ
-Define, describe, clarify (any unclear words/phrases)
-Ask other researchers
2. Review the "Literature"" to explore the RQ
-Primary literature: published reports of original scientific research, peer reviewed
journals
-Secondary literature: everything else
3. Create multiple HYPOTHESES and make list of POSSIBLE answers to RQ
-Hypothesis: one of many possible answers to the RQ
-Is it VALID: does it make sense
-Is it TESTABLE: can it be used to generate PREDICTIONS (deductions) about CMW
world
4. Generate PREDICTIONS from your hypothesis. Be SPECIFIC
-The deduction formula
-IF (my H is true), THEN what should I observe in the real world
,5. Do EXPERIMENTS test your PREDICTIONS
-Establish clear & repeatable EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
-consider RQ, hypothesis, the variables
-IV: deliberately change, "set up"
-DV: observe
-Controlled variable: all possible variables that might interfere with your IV and DV
-IMPORTANT: how will I know if my predictions T/F
6. Establish TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS:
-What do I know about each PREDICTION (T/F)
-What does this mean about each HYPOTHESIS (falsified? rejected?
-Do I RETHINK original ideas
-Any new ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES?
7. PEER COMMUNICATION:
-"science is a social activity"
-Informal & formal types
-Research team (useful in every step)
-scientific meetings (formal)
-peer reviewed journals (formal)
Helps avoid being mislead:
1. Provides a time-tested SYSTEMATIC METHOD to follow
2. INSISTS that you consider how the RQ is worded = precise, clear.
essay
,What is Science?
Science is a tool used to answer certain questions about the natural world
When/Where does SCIENCE/SCIENTIFIC METHOD "work" best?
Works best when...
We are asking questions and expecting answers in concrete material "CMW"
How can you make sure that your RESEARCH QUESTION is clear and precise?
-Define
-Describe
-Clarify any unclear words or phrases
-Ask other researchers
Why is PEER COMMUNICATION [step 7] mentioned in step 1 of the H-D Scientific
Method?
-Peer communication should actually be in EVERY STEP
-Science is a social activity
What exactly is a hypothesis?
Describe 2 properties of a GOOD/USEFUL hypothesis.
-A hypothesis is one of many possible answers to the research question
-Valid: does it makes sense
-Testable: can be used to make predictions about the CMW
List two ways that a HYPOTHESIS and a PREDICTION are different
, -HYPOTHESIS
-general
-sound like an answer to a question
-PREDICTIONS
-specific
-sound like a research question
What is the difference between a HYPOTHESIS and a THEORY?
-Theory: a well tested hypothesis that has never made a false prediction, (and has only made
true predictions)
-Hypothesis: only ONE possible answer
How do we decide if a HYPOTHESIS gets to "stay on the list of possible answers" or
gets thrown off the list?
-IF a hypothesis is VALID and TESTABLE it is kept on the list
-IF a hypothesis is making TRUE PREDICTIONS, THEN we keep it on the list of possible
answers to the RQ.
IF it makes a FALSE prediction, it gets thrown off the list.
Define Independent variable (IV)
-the variable that is deliberately created/"set up" by the researcher
Define Dependent variable (DV)
Correct Answers
What is the definition of "Biology"?
Biology is the scientific study of life and organisms
ESSAY:
1. Create a carefully worded and precise RQ
-Define, describe, clarify (any unclear words/phrases)
-Ask other researchers
2. Review the "Literature"" to explore the RQ
-Primary literature: published reports of original scientific research, peer reviewed
journals
-Secondary literature: everything else
3. Create multiple HYPOTHESES and make list of POSSIBLE answers to RQ
-Hypothesis: one of many possible answers to the RQ
-Is it VALID: does it make sense
-Is it TESTABLE: can it be used to generate PREDICTIONS (deductions) about CMW
world
4. Generate PREDICTIONS from your hypothesis. Be SPECIFIC
-The deduction formula
-IF (my H is true), THEN what should I observe in the real world
,5. Do EXPERIMENTS test your PREDICTIONS
-Establish clear & repeatable EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
-consider RQ, hypothesis, the variables
-IV: deliberately change, "set up"
-DV: observe
-Controlled variable: all possible variables that might interfere with your IV and DV
-IMPORTANT: how will I know if my predictions T/F
6. Establish TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS:
-What do I know about each PREDICTION (T/F)
-What does this mean about each HYPOTHESIS (falsified? rejected?
-Do I RETHINK original ideas
-Any new ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES?
7. PEER COMMUNICATION:
-"science is a social activity"
-Informal & formal types
-Research team (useful in every step)
-scientific meetings (formal)
-peer reviewed journals (formal)
Helps avoid being mislead:
1. Provides a time-tested SYSTEMATIC METHOD to follow
2. INSISTS that you consider how the RQ is worded = precise, clear.
essay
,What is Science?
Science is a tool used to answer certain questions about the natural world
When/Where does SCIENCE/SCIENTIFIC METHOD "work" best?
Works best when...
We are asking questions and expecting answers in concrete material "CMW"
How can you make sure that your RESEARCH QUESTION is clear and precise?
-Define
-Describe
-Clarify any unclear words or phrases
-Ask other researchers
Why is PEER COMMUNICATION [step 7] mentioned in step 1 of the H-D Scientific
Method?
-Peer communication should actually be in EVERY STEP
-Science is a social activity
What exactly is a hypothesis?
Describe 2 properties of a GOOD/USEFUL hypothesis.
-A hypothesis is one of many possible answers to the research question
-Valid: does it makes sense
-Testable: can be used to make predictions about the CMW
List two ways that a HYPOTHESIS and a PREDICTION are different
, -HYPOTHESIS
-general
-sound like an answer to a question
-PREDICTIONS
-specific
-sound like a research question
What is the difference between a HYPOTHESIS and a THEORY?
-Theory: a well tested hypothesis that has never made a false prediction, (and has only made
true predictions)
-Hypothesis: only ONE possible answer
How do we decide if a HYPOTHESIS gets to "stay on the list of possible answers" or
gets thrown off the list?
-IF a hypothesis is VALID and TESTABLE it is kept on the list
-IF a hypothesis is making TRUE PREDICTIONS, THEN we keep it on the list of possible
answers to the RQ.
IF it makes a FALSE prediction, it gets thrown off the list.
Define Independent variable (IV)
-the variable that is deliberately created/"set up" by the researcher
Define Dependent variable (DV)
