Chapter 1 post
Wafaa334Lab questions
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Chapter1.pptx
The Scientific Method
Chapter 1
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For chapter 1 – we will discuss …
1. Science, the nature of science, and the three assumptions that all sciences are based off of
2. The scientific method and its four steps
3. Nature of experiments, and how they are constructed
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Science – Method of gaining knowledge through the use of critical observation and experiment.
Definition
Does anyone have a definition of science?
Your textbook defines science as…
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All sciences are based on three assumptions
Natural causality
Uniformity in space and time
Common perception
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Natural Causality…
states that all events in nature are caused by natural causes, and can therefore be explained by natural means.
deals with cause and effect.
is the opposite from a teleological explanation.
Can be explained through nature and natural events, are measurable and observable through our current technology (e.g. Heliocentric)
Natural causality deals with cause and effect and bases explanations on these relationships
Teleological explanations are based on supernatural explanations
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Uniformity in Space and Time…
states that all events occur in the same way wherever or whenever they may happen in the universe.
In other words, sciences are constant and we can therefore make laws that are universally true… law of gravitation
e.g. – physical matter, will have the same consistency here or in another country, now or one-hundred years ago.
e.g. – gravity
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Common Perception…
states that all humans perceive events through their senses in the same way.
is different from morals and ethics which differ from culture to culture.
Humans see the same physical shapes or hear the same sound waves, but these shapes or sounds symbolize and mean different things to two different people.
e.g – color, everyone sees the same physical color, but the color represents/symbolizes different things in different cultures.
The example given to you in the book was that of the color red. Does anyone remember it?
This sums up the three main assumptions of all sciences. - Which are?... (1. Natural Causality 2. Uniformity in Space and Time & 3. Common Perception)
EXERCISE 1!!!! Pg 3
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The Scientific Method
Is a process for empirical testing.
It must be repeatable and testable.
EMPERICAL - based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic
After defining science we can now better understand the scientific method…
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It must be repeatable because the experiment must be done more than once and other scientists should be able to replicate it to test its accuracy
and it must be testable to be able to verify it.
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Observation – a question, which must be repeatable
Hypothesis – a proposed explanation, must answer “why”
Experiment – produces data, and this step is usually repeated multiple times
Conclusion – is based on the data collected, may or may not support the hypothesis
Steps for the scientific method…
e.g. – celestial event that only occurs once every 6,000 years cannot be repeated in a lifetime.
e.g. – “An individual’s life-expectancy could be extended IF/BECAUSE they take vitamins”
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Dependent variable – the condition or event that may change due to the independent variable.
Independent variable – the condition or event under study, this variable is often manipulated to determine its effect on the dependent variable.
Control variable – other conditions or events which are usually held constant but can affect results.
Control group – one group that remains unchanged and unaltered, used as a baseline for comparison.
Experimental Design
e.g. - hypothesis: “An individual’s life-expectancy could be extended if they take vitamins”
dependent variable – life span
independent variable – the amount of vitamin given to the subjects
control variable – health, fitness, diet, etc.
control group – given placebo, or nothing at all
Other examples of experiments
A student will have better grades if they study more hours.
DV – grade
IV – hours being studied
CV – sleep, nutrition, preparation
CG – group that doesn’t study
Increased stress will increase heart rate.
Exercise 5!!! pg7
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