BIOL 181 WEEK 1–8 COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
GUIDE 2026
◉ Biology. Answer: The study of living organisms and their
interactions with other organisms and the environment.
◉ Science. Answer: It is derived from a Latin verb meaning
"Knowledge."
◉ Scientific Method. Answer: 1. Making an observation.
2. Forming a Hypothesis.
3. Testing a Hypothesis.
◉ Making an observation. Answer: First step in the scientific method
where biologists make observations and then ask questions about
those observations. Followed by the formation of a hypothesis.
◉ Forming a Hypothesis. Answer: Second step of the scientific
method where its definition is *rational accounting for a set of
observations, guided by reasoning* or *an educated guess.* It is *an
explanation on trial* that *leads to predictions that can be tested
with additional observations or an experiment.*
, ◉ Testing a Hypothesis. Answer: Third step of the scientific method
which consists of *testing by experiments.* It depends on *the use of
variables.*
◉ Dependent variable. Answer: The factor that is being tested or
measured.
◉ Independent variable. Answer: The factor that is being changed (it
should only be one).
◉ Why can't hypotheses never be conclusively proven to be true?.
Answer: Because we can never test all the alternatives.
◉ How do hypotheses gain credibility?. Answer: By surviving
multiple attempts at falsification, whole alternative hypotheses are
eliminated by testing.
◉ We either ______ or ____ __ ______ a hypothesis.. Answer: 1. Reject.
2. Fail to reject.
◉ Theory. Answer: It has a *broader scope than a hypothesis.
Supported by a large number of studies.*
GUIDE 2026
◉ Biology. Answer: The study of living organisms and their
interactions with other organisms and the environment.
◉ Science. Answer: It is derived from a Latin verb meaning
"Knowledge."
◉ Scientific Method. Answer: 1. Making an observation.
2. Forming a Hypothesis.
3. Testing a Hypothesis.
◉ Making an observation. Answer: First step in the scientific method
where biologists make observations and then ask questions about
those observations. Followed by the formation of a hypothesis.
◉ Forming a Hypothesis. Answer: Second step of the scientific
method where its definition is *rational accounting for a set of
observations, guided by reasoning* or *an educated guess.* It is *an
explanation on trial* that *leads to predictions that can be tested
with additional observations or an experiment.*
, ◉ Testing a Hypothesis. Answer: Third step of the scientific method
which consists of *testing by experiments.* It depends on *the use of
variables.*
◉ Dependent variable. Answer: The factor that is being tested or
measured.
◉ Independent variable. Answer: The factor that is being changed (it
should only be one).
◉ Why can't hypotheses never be conclusively proven to be true?.
Answer: Because we can never test all the alternatives.
◉ How do hypotheses gain credibility?. Answer: By surviving
multiple attempts at falsification, whole alternative hypotheses are
eliminated by testing.
◉ We either ______ or ____ __ ______ a hypothesis.. Answer: 1. Reject.
2. Fail to reject.
◉ Theory. Answer: It has a *broader scope than a hypothesis.
Supported by a large number of studies.*
