Principles of Science and Systems (Chapter 2)

Which basic principle of science emphasizes the importance of observable phenomena in understanding natural laws?

What principle states that the simplest explanation is usually the best?

Which basic principle of science acknowledges that scientific knowledge evolves as new evidence emerges?

What is the main emphasis of the repeatability principle in scientific experiments?

What does the principle of proof being elusive imply about scientific theories?

The basic principles of science

What does science rely on when developing or testing theories?

What was a significant shift in thinking during the Middle Ages regarding knowledge acquisition?

What is the role of peer review in scientific research?

Why is skepticism important in scientific practice?

What assumption underlies scientific inquiry?

What does the concept of reproducibility in science emphasize?

Which of the following best describes the nature of scientific knowledge?

What defines a reasonable scientific explanation?

What does the term 'scientific theory' imply in a scientific context?

How does science communication contribute to society?

In probability, what does a 20 percent chance of catching a cold indicate?

Why is a sample size of 2,000 preferable to a sample size of 200 in a study?

What does an ecological test indicate if there is less than a 5 percent probability that results occurred by random chance?

What does the concept of probability often hinge upon?

What impact does science literacy have on democracy?

What would most likely influence the likelihood of catching a cold in the winter?

How does studying late potentially influence illness among students?

Why is it essential to provide context when communicating scientific findings?

What role does random chance play in determining probability?

What can be inferred when 40 percent of students in a class caught a cold but only 20 percent statewide did?

What is the primary difference between accuracy and precision in scientific measurements?

In the process of scientific inquiry, what does the term 'replication' refer to?

What is an example of deductive reasoning in the scientific method?

What does inductive reasoning primarily rely on in scientific investigation?

Why is absolute proof considered rare in science?

What is a significant figure in scientific measurements?

What is the first step when employing the scientific method to solve a problem?

How does insight and creativity influence scientific discovery?

What characterizes a hypothesis within the scientific method?

What problem arises when formulating a hypothesis based solely on observations of a large population?

What is the significance of having a methodical approach in scientific testing?

In the dart-throwing analogy, what aspect does hitting the same spot represent?

Why is it important to describe the conditions of a study in research?

When is an observation deemed untestable in scientific research?

What does the quote about seeing hundreds of swans illustrate concerning scientific hypotheses?

What is a feature that reputable organizations provide to ensure transparency in their findings?

What key question should be asked to assess the reliability of an 'expert' report?

According to the discussed strategies, which factor is NOT mentioned as a way to identify misinformation?

How did Carl Sagan contribute to the evaluation of scientific claims?

What does Edward O. Wilson suggest about contrarians in public discussions on science?

What type of study is described as one that observes natural systems without manipulation?

What is a major advantage of having a large data set in ecological studies?

How do natural experiments differ from controlled experiments?

What might limit the effectiveness of manipulative experiments in real environments?

What is the key feature of double-blind experiments?

In an experiment studying the effect of lawn chemicals on tadpole deformities, what is the role of the control group?

What term is often used to describe variables that are presumed to explain differences in the dependent variable?

What does a mathematical model of population growth describe?

What is considered a limitation of using physical models in scientific research?

What is a characteristic of observational studies in ecology?

Why might scientists prefer models over direct observation in some studies?

In the population growth model $N_t = r N_{t-1}$, what does $N_t$ represent?

What is a challenge associated with conducting manipulative experiments?

What is the primary purpose of simulation models in economics and climatology?

What characterizes an open system in environmental science?

What is a common characteristic of positive feedback mechanisms in a system?

Which factor can lead to biomass accumulation in an ecosystem?

How do simulation models produce predictions about future events?

What role do throughput concepts play in understanding ecosystems?

Which of the following is a pseudo-closed system?

What can occur if positive feedback mechanisms are left unchecked in a system?

What is a central concept in environmental science that helps us understand complex phenomena?

What effect do negative feedback mechanisms have on a system?

Which of the following best describes a river as a system?

In terms of biomass, what distinguishes rain forests from grasslands?

What limits the predictability of open systems in scientific study?

What motivates the use of simplified, pseudo-closed systems in experiments?

What effect do clouds have on the warming process?

In population dynamics, what is an example of negative feedback?

How does sweating function as a negative feedback mechanism?

What characterizes dynamic equilibrium in ecosystems?

What is a common result of disturbances in grasslands?

Which phenomenon describes an ability to recover from disturbances in ecosystems?

What is meant by emergent properties in a system?

What role does scientific consensus play in scientific research?

How did the idea of tectonic plate movement impact geological science?

What is the main impact of severe disturbances on a grassland ecosystem?

What does the term 'state shift' refer to in ecological systems?

Which of these exemplifies a positive feedback mechanism in population dynamics?

What ensures a balance of scientific ideas and findings in research communities?

Why is a temperature change of 4–6°F considered serious in the human body?

What is a paradigm shift according to Thomas Kuhn?

What often contributes to the contentious nature of paradigm shifts?

What has been a significant strategy used by industries to influence public perception of climate science?

How did the tobacco lobby's strategy in the past relate to climate misinformation?

What is often misrepresented in media coverage about scientific consensus on climate change?

What is a common approach taken by climate change skeptics regarding their arguments?

What factor often influences a person's acceptance or rejection of scientific evidence?

In deciding the credibility of a scientific claim, which of the following questions would be most relevant?

What transformed the perception of climate change by the 2020s?

What has been the effect of media alignment with political groups on scientific reporting?

Which of the following reflects the public's tendency related to group identity in receiving scientific views?

What aspect defines the strategy shift from outright climate change denial to questioning solutions?

Which of the following best exemplifies critical thinking regarding scientific claims?

What outcome might occur when a scientific consensus is presented as divisive in news media?

What does the observed delay in acceptance of new scientific paradigms often stem from?