Outline:

Discovery Science
- In discovery science, scientists observe and describe aspects of the world and use inductive reasoning to draw general conclusions. Scientists collect qualitative and quantitative data in order to do this.
- Qualitative data describes qualities, such as color or shape. Quantitative data describes quantites, such as 45 rabbits or 60% of a population.
Hypothesis Based Science
- Scientists propose hypotheses based on observations and data that lead to predictions and then test theses hypotheses by seeing if the predictions come true. Deductive reasoning is used in hypotheses and all hypotheses must be testable and falsifiable. Verbs like causes and explains are common in hypotheses. Deductive reasoning is the logic of "if...then" statements.
- Example: if all organisms are made of cells and all humans are organisms then all humans are made of cells.
Case Study in Scientific Inquiry: Investigating Mimicry in Snake Populations
- Experiments must be designed to demonstrate the effect on one variable by testing control groups and experimental groups that differ 'only' in one variable.
- In a perfect world scientists would be able to have only one variable differ in all circumstances, but that is simply not plausible. When we say a 'controlled experiment' where 'only one' variable is different, what we really mean is that scientists remove as many variants as possible, leading to as close to an absolute control as possible. But an error percentage of 0% is just not attainable.
Limitations in Science
- Science cannot address the possibility of supernatural phenomena because hypotheses must be testable and falsifiable and observations and experimental results must be repeatable. Observations that can't be verified (such as supernatural ones) may be interesting or entertaining, but unless they can stand up against the criterion of repeatability, that is, similar data can be obtained from similar experiments, these observations cannot count as scientific evidence.
Theories in Science
- A scientific theory is broad in scope, generates new hypotheses, and is supported by a large body of evidence.
Model Building in Science
- Scientific models can take many forms, including diagrams, graphs, three dimensional objects, computer programs, or even mathematical equations. Choosing the most appropriate type of model all depends on what needs to be communicated and explained about that object, idea, process, or problem that model is to represent. Science is a social activity characterized by both coperation and competition.
The Culture of Science
- Most scientists work in teams, often including both graduate and undergraduate students. In order to suceed in science, it helps to be a communicator. Research tends to have no bearing unless published to a community of peers. The biology is parter of the greater society at larged, imbeded in the culture of the times. For example, as more women join the field of biology, the focus of mating patterns of animals has shifted from male competition of females to females role in choosing male mates.
Science, Technology, and Society
- Technology generally applies sciencetific knowledge for some specific purpose. Technology is constantally advancing science as science is constantally advancing technology.

	Created by Emma Cress about 9 years ago

AP Biology (Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life) Note on Introduction Chapter Notes, created by Emma Cress on 25/08/2017.

Introduction Chapter Notes