BSC2005 UF Exam #1
Questions with Complete
Answers Updated.
Scientific Method & Study Design
Q1. What are the steps of the scientific method?
Answer: Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Prediction, Experiment,
Conclusion
Rationale: The scientific method is a systematic process used to investigate
phenomena and acquire new knowledge.
Q2. What is a hypothesis?
Answer: A proposed explanation that can be tested and have an
outcome that may prove it wrong
Rationale: A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for a scientific
observation or question that can be tested through further investigation.
,Q3. What does it mean for a hypothesis to be falsifiable? Why is this
important?
Answer: Falsifiable means it can be proven wrong. If it cannot be
proven false, it is not scientific data
Rationale: Falsifiability is essential for distinguishing science from non-
science. A hypothesis must be testable in a way that could potentially
disprove it.
Q4. Can a hypothesis be proven? Can it be disproven?
Answer: Cannot be proven because it can never be 100% (you can't
test every single aspect). It can be disproven because you only need
one small aspect to be false
Rationale: Science works by disproving hypotheses, not proving them. A
single counterexample can falsify a hypothesis.
Q5. What is the difference between an observational study, an experimental
study, and a natural experiment?
Answer: Observational study: You watch normal nature (correlation).
Experimental study: You change a variable in a lab (causation). Natural
experiment: When a natural event does the "manipulating/change" for
you
Rationale: Observational studies find patterns; experimental studies
establish causation; natural experiments use naturally occurring changes.
, Q6. If we see a relationship between two variables, can we say that changes
in one variable cause the change in the other?
Answer: No, correlation does not mean causation. You must do a strict
experimental study to determine the effect
Rationale: A study may suggest a correlation between two variables, but it
does not necessarily mean that one caused the other.
Q7. What is the independent variable?
Answer: The variable that the researcher purposely changes (X-axis)
Rationale: The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher.
Q8. What is the dependent variable?
Answer: Variable being measured or observed. The value depends on
the independent variable (Y-axis)
Rationale: The dependent variable is the outcome being measured.
Q9. What is the alternative hypothesis vs. the null hypothesis?
Answer: Alternative says there is a statistically significant effect,
difference, or relationship. Null says there is no effect. Your purpose is
to get evidence to reject the null hypothesis
Rationale: The null hypothesis states no effect; the alternative hypothesis
states there is an effect.
Questions with Complete
Answers Updated.
Scientific Method & Study Design
Q1. What are the steps of the scientific method?
Answer: Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Prediction, Experiment,
Conclusion
Rationale: The scientific method is a systematic process used to investigate
phenomena and acquire new knowledge.
Q2. What is a hypothesis?
Answer: A proposed explanation that can be tested and have an
outcome that may prove it wrong
Rationale: A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for a scientific
observation or question that can be tested through further investigation.
,Q3. What does it mean for a hypothesis to be falsifiable? Why is this
important?
Answer: Falsifiable means it can be proven wrong. If it cannot be
proven false, it is not scientific data
Rationale: Falsifiability is essential for distinguishing science from non-
science. A hypothesis must be testable in a way that could potentially
disprove it.
Q4. Can a hypothesis be proven? Can it be disproven?
Answer: Cannot be proven because it can never be 100% (you can't
test every single aspect). It can be disproven because you only need
one small aspect to be false
Rationale: Science works by disproving hypotheses, not proving them. A
single counterexample can falsify a hypothesis.
Q5. What is the difference between an observational study, an experimental
study, and a natural experiment?
Answer: Observational study: You watch normal nature (correlation).
Experimental study: You change a variable in a lab (causation). Natural
experiment: When a natural event does the "manipulating/change" for
you
Rationale: Observational studies find patterns; experimental studies
establish causation; natural experiments use naturally occurring changes.
, Q6. If we see a relationship between two variables, can we say that changes
in one variable cause the change in the other?
Answer: No, correlation does not mean causation. You must do a strict
experimental study to determine the effect
Rationale: A study may suggest a correlation between two variables, but it
does not necessarily mean that one caused the other.
Q7. What is the independent variable?
Answer: The variable that the researcher purposely changes (X-axis)
Rationale: The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher.
Q8. What is the dependent variable?
Answer: Variable being measured or observed. The value depends on
the independent variable (Y-axis)
Rationale: The dependent variable is the outcome being measured.
Q9. What is the alternative hypothesis vs. the null hypothesis?
Answer: Alternative says there is a statistically significant effect,
difference, or relationship. Null says there is no effect. Your purpose is
to get evidence to reject the null hypothesis
Rationale: The null hypothesis states no effect; the alternative hypothesis
states there is an effect.
