bio lab

Name:______________________ Date: _______

Lab Section:___________

Pre-lab 1- Myths in Science (10 pts)

Read the introduction and “myths” 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, & 9 in the article, The Principle Elements of the Nature of Science: Dispelling the Myths, by W.F. McComas (Posted on Blackboard in the lab folder). Complete the questions below and turn this page in at the beginning of lab.

PLEASE ALWAYS WEAR CLOSED TOED SHOES AND PANTS TO LAB!

1) Explain what the author means when he says that there is no well-accepted theory of gravity.

2) Compare the difference between the application of laws in biology versus the physical sciences.

3) Explain what is meant by “generalizing” versus “explanatory” when applied to hypotheses.

4) Explain the problem of induction in your own words and provide an example to illustrate this problem.

5) In your own words, explain why a scientist should never say that their hypothesis is “proven true”?

6) What does it mean for something to be falsifiable? Provide an example of a falsifiable hypothesis and a non-falsifiable hypothesis.

7) Consider the first chapter reading from the text book, give an example of a scientist(s) failure to be objective when drawing conclusions from their data in that reading.

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Edited 8/26/15 Biology 111 Lab Page