Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download 1.1 The Scientific Method
Transcript
Chapter 1: The Scientific Method Leaving Certificate Biology Higher Level The Study of Biology • Biology is the study of living things – Ecology – Physiology – Anatomy The Scientific Method 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Observation: taking in of information received about the natural world Hypothesis: an educated guess/idea based on an observation Experimentation: an experiment is a test designed to prove/disprove a hypothesis Collection of data: data are results obtained after carrying out an experiment Conclusions: explaining the results Analysis: explaining new knowledge in relation to existing knowledge Reporting and publishing results: describing and releasing results to other scientists and the public Development of theory and principle: a theory is a comprehensive explanation; a law is a definite, factual explanation of an important aspect of nature Principles of Experimentation • Careful planning and design • Safety (e.g. wearing gloves and lab coat) • Experimental control: a control is a factor in an experiment that provides a standard upon which results may be compared • Sample size: (larger sample size gives a better representation in the results) • Random selection: (e.g. clinical trials must include younger people as well as older) • Replicates: a replicate is a repeat of an experiment) • Double-blind testing: (doctor does not know who has been given an active drug) Limitations of the Scientific Method 1. Extent of our basic knowledge: lack of knowledge leads to inadequate hypotheses 2. Basis of investigation: lack of technology/materials/equipment 3. Interpretation of results: scientists may interpret results differently 4. Application to a changing natural world: information obtained from organisms in the past may not be valid today – they may have to be repeated 5. Accidental discovery: experiments may have gone completely “wrong” – i.e. “we did not get the desired result” or “we made an error in preparation and an unexpected result is obtained”; e.g. discovery of penicillin
