BIOL 1000 - The Scientific Method Lecture Notes - Fall 2024

BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD BIOL 1000 – Foundations in Bioscience Introduction to the Scientific Method  What is the Scientific Method? 1 BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific M...

BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD BIOL 1000 – Foundations in Bioscience Introduction to the Scientific Method  What is the Scientific Method? 1 BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? Scientists ask questions Is this fish then search for answers …..?? using a systematic process called the Scientific Method Scientists investigate the natural world using a transparent method of inquiry that allows their findings to be evaluated by other scientists 2  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? The Scientific Method Method of knowledge acquisition Relies on educated assumptions and skepticism Uses inductive and deductive thought (reasoning or logic) ̶Inductive – provide specific evidence (from observations/ experiments) that can lead to a general conclusion ̶Deductive – uses a generalization (hypothesis or theory ) that can be used (through observations and experiments) to test specific phenomena or specific species/situations Depends on testable hypotheses Requires refinement of questions, hypotheses and testing by experimentation Results may contribute to the development of a theory 3  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? Two Strategies for Acquiring New Knowledge Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning Inductive Deductive Reasoning Reasoning General General Specific Specific Deductive – uses a generalization Inductive – provides evidence (hypothesis) that can be (from numerous observations tested through observations and and experiments) that can experiments of specific lead to a general conclusion phenomena or specific species 4  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? (1) Using Inductive Reasoning Flows from a set of Researcher makes generalizations (or specific observations to theories) based on information gathered, general conclusions past experiences and published literature For example: - researcher observes cells in 3 Researcher looks for broad patterns. different organisms (specific) - all 3 organisms are animals Researcher analyzes data to find - therefore all animals have cells themes or categories or patterns Suggests a pattern based on a few animals having cells Researcher asks open-ended questions of participants or records or field-notes Generalize that all animals are expected to have cells Researcher gathers information from This generalization can then specific definable sources e.g. data, be tested with other types or experiments, interviews, observations organisms (by deduction) 5  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? (2) Using Deductive Reasoning Researcher tests or verifies Flows from general conclusions a theory or generalization to specific observations From general premises, a scientist Researcher asks questions and would extrapolate to specific results tests possible answers For example: (or research hypotheses) - if all organisms have cells (general) - and humans are organisms - then humans have cells Researcher defines variables This is a prediction about derived from the theory a specific case (humans) that is based on general premises Researcher measures or observes (from Cell Theory) variables to obtain specific results that is based on theory and tests May add evidence in support of theory general conclusions 6  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? OBSERVATIONS Uses Deductive Steps in the Scientific Method Reasoning QUESTION Strategy RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS PREDICTION TEST / EXPERIMENT Fails to Support Supports ANALYSIS Research Research Hypothesis Hypothesis CONCLUSION 7  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? 1. Make observations OBSERVATIONS or gather Careful observation information from is the keystone of QUESTION known sources science RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS PREDICTION TEST / EXPERIMENT Fails to Support Supports ANALYSIS Research Research Hypothesis Hypothesis CONCLUSION 8  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? 1. Make observations OBSERVATIONS or gather information from QUESTION known sources 2. Ask questions 3. Develop tentative RESEARCH (possible) informed HYPOTHESIS answer to question = Research Hypothesis PREDICTION TEST / EXPERIMENT Fails to Support Supports ANALYSIS Research Research Hypothesis Hypothesis CONCLUSION 9  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? Science depends on Ability to Test Hypotheses Hypothesis = a tentative explanation = a possible informed answer to a question = an “educated guess” Research Hypotheses must be: 1. Falsifiable with the potential of being rejected as more data accumulates 2. Testable using repeatable experiments A hypothesis that survives repeated testing by numerous researchers and in numerous ways may be incorporated into a theory 10  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? OBSERVATIONS QUESTION 4. A good hypothesis RESEARCH allows predictions HYPOTHESIS about observations not yet made or experiments not yet PREDICTION done. These predictions can be TEST / EXPERIMENT tested. Fails to Support Supports ANALYSIS Research Research Hypothesis Hypothesis CONCLUSION 11  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? Scientific Method uses DEDUCTIVE REASONING A good hypothesis leads to predictions that can be tested Generalization / “Aspirin lowers cholesterol” Theory / Hypothesis If aspirin lowers cholesterol, then the cholesterol levels of patients given aspirin Prediction once a day for one year should decrease more than in patients not given aspirin. Perform Test VERY SPECIFIC Study / Experiment Suggests experimental design to be used 12  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? OBSERVATIONS QUESTION RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS 5. Perform tests PREDICTION (studies/experiments) to test predictions based on hypothesis TEST / EXPERIMENT Fails to Support Supports ANALYSIS Research Research Hypothesis Hypothesis CONCLUSION 13  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? OBSERVATIONS QUESTION RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS 6. Analyze data 7. State conclusion – PREDICTION should relate back to Research Hypothesis TEST / EXPERIMENT Fails to Support Supports ANALYSIS Research Research Hypothesis Hypothesis CONCLUSION 14  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? 15  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? Scientific Terminology Hypothesis: A tentative explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested in a specific experiment or by a set of observations - tends to involve a “small-scale” idea (pathogenic bacteria (e.g. E. coli) living in contaminated food cause vomiting) When a hypothesis survives repeated testing by numerous researchers – it may be elevated to a theory Theory: Generally accepted explanation of natural phenomena that is supported by a large body of experiments/observations which have been extensively tested – always open to further study and revision - a “larger-scale” idea (germ theory of disease) Confidence is proportional to the evidence supporting it 16  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? Evidence in Science provides Support for Hypotheses that lead to Theories 17  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? More Scientific Terminology Paradigm: Theoretical framework so successful and well confirmed that future research is carried out within its context Examples of Paradigm Shifts: Theory of Evolution through Natural Selection (Darwin) - Shift from creationism, spontaneous generation, inheritance of acquired characteristics Germ Theory for Disease Transmission (Koch) - Shift from random transmission, involvement of miasmas / humors 18  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? More Scientific Terminology Scientific Law: Laws in Biological Science include: A concept that can often Law of membrane-bound cells be summarized as an Law of evolution of life equation (law) that Laws in Chemical Science include: provides a succinct Law of partial pressures encapsulation of a system Law of fluid dynamics Law of thermodynamics Laws in Physical Science include: Laws of motion Laws in Astronomy include: Law of universal gravitation Law of planetary motion Law of conservation of mass Law of cosmic expansion Law of conservation of energy Laws of relativity 19  BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What is the Scientific Method? Use of Scientific Method leads to Scientific Progress The scientific method promotes scientific progress expands knowledge base by confirming a hypothesis with observation and experimentation allows new questions to be asked tests additional hypotheses leads to clearer interpretation of results Refer to Description and History The scientific method ̶permits original knowledge base to be modified ̶builds “body of knowledge” that forms basis for new understanding and more research 20 BIOL 1000 – SCIENCE AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD What are your Questions? 21