BIO 155 Pre lab quizzes Actual study set
with Questions and correct/verified
Answers
This scientific inquiry process is most similar to:
A Network
A Circle
A set of Linear Steps
A Wheel with Spokes - ANSWER-A Network
Which of the following is NOT true regarding the process of scientific inquiry?
Designing an experiment to test an unlikely hypothesis !
Accepting a hypothesis based on preliminary data
Developing a hypotheses based on a little known phenomenon
Running experiments with precision
Recording observations - ANSWER-Accepting a hypothesis based on preliminary data
In the class experiment with termites, we tested if the termites were attracted to the ink line or pencil
line. In our experiment, _________ was the dependent variable and ___________ was the independent
variable. - ANSWER-time termites spent on either ink or pencil line, presence of ink
In our class discussion about termites, you learn that they spend most of their lives in complete darkness
feeding on wood. You know from experience that colors do not show up well without light because the
color receptors in our eyes (cones) do not work without the presence of light. Knowing this, which of the
following hypotheses is the most likely to have biological support? - ANSWER-Termites will have evolved
mechanisms to travel that do not involve vision.
In the class experiment, why did we use the same termite for both the pen and pencil trials on a single
sheet of paper? - ANSWER-To remove the effect of individual differences in termite behavior from
confounding the results.
In the termite class experiment, what was the primary reason for controlling for treatment order bias by
alternating whether the termite started on either the control or treatment trial? - ANSWER-Reduce the
effects of sensitization and fatigue
Scientist use ________________ to get a sample that is a good representative of the population. -
ANSWER-random sampling techniques
What level of measurement classifies data into mutually exclusive (non-overlapping) categories in which
no order or ranking can be imposed on the data? - ANSWER-Nominal
Which of the following is true about descriptive versus inferential statistics?
You can make definitive conclusions from descriptive statistics alone.
, Only inferential statistics allow us to generalize our findings to the entire population, so descriptive
statistics have an insignificant role in science.
You can determine inferential statistics from intuition alone.
Descriptive statistics are a good way to get an idea of what your data looks like. - ANSWER-Descriptive
statistics are a good way to get an idea of what your data looks like.
A t-test is commonly used to test ___________ - ANSWER-if means of two samples are different from
each other
What does the p-value represent in a t-test? - ANSWER-The probability of obtaining the observed results
if the null hypothesis is true.
Which of the following will narrow a literature search in Web of Science? - ANSWER-Using AND between
keywords
Impact factor of a journal concerns: - ANSWER-The importance of the journal measured in average
citations of the articles it publishes
What does "peer-reviewed" mean and why is it important with respect to the primary literature? -
ANSWER-It means several experts in the field have reviewed the paper, and is important to keep
incomplete or questionable results from going to the press.
Which of the following is NOT an example of a continuous variable?
Shape
Distance
Plant growth rate
Time - ANSWER-Shape
Why do we need to look at standard errors? - ANSWER-They give us an idea of how close the average of
the sample is to the real population.
What is the appropriate formula for calculating the standard error of the mean? - ANSWER-Standard
deviation divided by the square root of N, the number of samples
Why was a t test used to analyze the data collected from the termite orientation behavior experiment? -
ANSWER-There are only two levels of a categorical independent variable, and the dependent variable is
continuous
We can __________________________ the null hypothesis. - ANSWER-reject or fail to reject
Which of the following sentence is correct about citation? - ANSWER-When discussing a concept while
writing a scientific manuscript, you must cite it's source if its not an original concept.
Which of the following steps are likely to help you avoid plagiarism in your scientific writing? - ANSWER-
Write out notes from your sources in your own words
What is the difference between a list of references and bibliography? - ANSWER-Bibliography is the list of
sources at the end of an essay whether its cited or not.
Which two sections typically contain cited information? - ANSWER-Introduction and Discussion
Which of the following correctly identifies the process of transcription? - ANSWER-DNA->RNA
Which of the following is true about DNA?
with Questions and correct/verified
Answers
This scientific inquiry process is most similar to:
A Network
A Circle
A set of Linear Steps
A Wheel with Spokes - ANSWER-A Network
Which of the following is NOT true regarding the process of scientific inquiry?
Designing an experiment to test an unlikely hypothesis !
Accepting a hypothesis based on preliminary data
Developing a hypotheses based on a little known phenomenon
Running experiments with precision
Recording observations - ANSWER-Accepting a hypothesis based on preliminary data
In the class experiment with termites, we tested if the termites were attracted to the ink line or pencil
line. In our experiment, _________ was the dependent variable and ___________ was the independent
variable. - ANSWER-time termites spent on either ink or pencil line, presence of ink
In our class discussion about termites, you learn that they spend most of their lives in complete darkness
feeding on wood. You know from experience that colors do not show up well without light because the
color receptors in our eyes (cones) do not work without the presence of light. Knowing this, which of the
following hypotheses is the most likely to have biological support? - ANSWER-Termites will have evolved
mechanisms to travel that do not involve vision.
In the class experiment, why did we use the same termite for both the pen and pencil trials on a single
sheet of paper? - ANSWER-To remove the effect of individual differences in termite behavior from
confounding the results.
In the termite class experiment, what was the primary reason for controlling for treatment order bias by
alternating whether the termite started on either the control or treatment trial? - ANSWER-Reduce the
effects of sensitization and fatigue
Scientist use ________________ to get a sample that is a good representative of the population. -
ANSWER-random sampling techniques
What level of measurement classifies data into mutually exclusive (non-overlapping) categories in which
no order or ranking can be imposed on the data? - ANSWER-Nominal
Which of the following is true about descriptive versus inferential statistics?
You can make definitive conclusions from descriptive statistics alone.
, Only inferential statistics allow us to generalize our findings to the entire population, so descriptive
statistics have an insignificant role in science.
You can determine inferential statistics from intuition alone.
Descriptive statistics are a good way to get an idea of what your data looks like. - ANSWER-Descriptive
statistics are a good way to get an idea of what your data looks like.
A t-test is commonly used to test ___________ - ANSWER-if means of two samples are different from
each other
What does the p-value represent in a t-test? - ANSWER-The probability of obtaining the observed results
if the null hypothesis is true.
Which of the following will narrow a literature search in Web of Science? - ANSWER-Using AND between
keywords
Impact factor of a journal concerns: - ANSWER-The importance of the journal measured in average
citations of the articles it publishes
What does "peer-reviewed" mean and why is it important with respect to the primary literature? -
ANSWER-It means several experts in the field have reviewed the paper, and is important to keep
incomplete or questionable results from going to the press.
Which of the following is NOT an example of a continuous variable?
Shape
Distance
Plant growth rate
Time - ANSWER-Shape
Why do we need to look at standard errors? - ANSWER-They give us an idea of how close the average of
the sample is to the real population.
What is the appropriate formula for calculating the standard error of the mean? - ANSWER-Standard
deviation divided by the square root of N, the number of samples
Why was a t test used to analyze the data collected from the termite orientation behavior experiment? -
ANSWER-There are only two levels of a categorical independent variable, and the dependent variable is
continuous
We can __________________________ the null hypothesis. - ANSWER-reject or fail to reject
Which of the following sentence is correct about citation? - ANSWER-When discussing a concept while
writing a scientific manuscript, you must cite it's source if its not an original concept.
Which of the following steps are likely to help you avoid plagiarism in your scientific writing? - ANSWER-
Write out notes from your sources in your own words
What is the difference between a list of references and bibliography? - ANSWER-Bibliography is the list of
sources at the end of an essay whether its cited or not.
Which two sections typically contain cited information? - ANSWER-Introduction and Discussion
Which of the following correctly identifies the process of transcription? - ANSWER-DNA->RNA
Which of the following is true about DNA?