GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE1 GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE FOCUS: SCIENTIFIC TRAITS AND SCIENTIFIC METHOD LET COMPETENCIES: 1. identify scientific traits and attitudes exhibited in various situation; and 2. use scientific inquiry to investigate materials, events, and phenomena in natural world (designing, collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data, making conclusion and communicating result) STRUCTURED OVERVIEW BIOLOGIST SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE ACCURACY BELIEF CRITICAL-MINDEDNESS CRITICAL OUTLOOK CURIOSITY HUMILITY IMAGINATION INTELLECTUAL HONESTY OBJECTIVITY OPEN-MINDEDNESS RESPONSIBILITY RISK-TAKING SCIENTIFIC HUNCH KNOWLEDGE IN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE STARTING THE PROBLEM GATHERING DATA FORMULATING A HYPOTHESIS TEST THE HYPOTHESIS RECORDING & ANALYSIS STATING CONCLUSION REPEATING THE WORK COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS A biologist should be eager to know the answer on what’s happening on surrounding through asking questions. Critical-Outlook 5. Biology is the name given to this study of living things. A person who possesses a critical outlook does not readily believe things he sees. or performing with care is free from mistake or error. II. he asked questions on the veracity of a statement in relation to the evidence presented. Critical-Mindedness 4. The second dimension of biology’s scope structures across the enormous diversity of life on Earth. now and throughout life’s history. A biologist believes that everything that happens in this world has a cause or reason. INTRODUCTION: Since the very beginning of human history. Belief 3. particularly in everything that moves or grows and can be called alive. requiring knowledge of the physical science and mathematics. men have taken an interest in what they saw. exact. When in doubt. life is structured on size scale ranging from the molecular to the global. SCIENTIFIC TRAITS/ ATTITUDES What attitudes do scientists manifest when engaged in an inquiry or investigation? Below are list of scientific attitudes that are qualities of scientists: SCIENTIFIC TRAIT 1. This trait implies careful judgment. A biologist bases suggestion and conclusion on evidences. reads or hears. Curiosity . Biologists continually check or recheck not only their own finding but also those other biologist all over the world. Biology is a huge subject that gets bigger every year because of the great discovery explosion. We can think of biology’s enormous scope as having two major dimensions. 2.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2 IN THE NUTSHELL I. First. It is inherently interdisciplinary. Accuracy DESCRIPTION This term refers to the attitude of being precise. Galileo Galilei. earth scientist. an English Philosopher. and Francis Bacon. arrogant or assertive. Imagination 8. scientists in all fields approach the problem in the same way. A biologist expresses his opinions and tries new ideas even at the risk of failure or criticism. In conducting experiment or observation a biologist should not be influenced by his opinions or feelings in abler to avoid biases. A biologist should be ready to consider any suggestions or ideas. other scientist may repeat the work or test its conclusions. Responsibility 11. Objectivity 9. Scientific Hunch III. This trait implies on the creative ability of a biologist by forming a new idea from the things experienced or observed and also being resourceful in overcoming practical difficulties. It helps them find the reasons for the facts or ides they are puzzled about. Even so. He accepts criticism and changes his mind if reliable evidence contradicts his believes. biologist. 7. The scientific method took centuries to develop and has to be learned by every science student. SCIENTIFIC METHOD (A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO RESEARCH) There are so many different kinds of phenomena to be explained those scientists have had to become specialist – physicist. The universal approach to scientific problems is called scientific method. . a new idea. an Italian physicist. so on… With in each of these fields there are numerous subdivisions. Open-mindedness 10. Risk-taking 12. are considered the principal founders of the scientific method. astronomer. A biologist actually participates in a task and also dutifully performs task assigned to him. When a scientist announces a finding on proposes. A hunch is a strong intuitive impression that something will happen.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 3 6. chemist. Humility A biologist should not be proud. He should admit that he is not free from committing errors. He recognized that there maybe better ideas and realizes that there are other biologist or scientist whom may have to consult to arrive at correct observation and conclusion. 2. It is a tentative explanation for certain behaviors. You should also repeat your experiments several times to make sure that the first results weren't just an accident. 3. FORMULATING A HYPOTHESIS (What are possible answers to our problem?) A hypothesis is a statement that can be used to predict the outcome of future observation. Types of Variables • • • Independent variable.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 4 The basic steps in the scientific method are: 1. It is important for your experiment to be a fair test.a claim that there is no difference between the population mean and the hypothesized value. The usual questions that arise in science include the Why. If the null hypothesis is rejected. he will be able to gather data to further understand the problem. Dependent variable. from this process of observation. He should go around and observe the things around him. The biologist observed how it responds to the changes made to independent variable. phenomena or events which occurred or will occur. Controlled variable – are quantities that biologist wants to remain constant. (Gay. 4. Why? Because one question frequently leads to another or even top a host of new questions. The successful solution of the smaller parts of the problem permits gradual solution of the whole. OBSERVING AND GATHERING INFORMATION A scientist does not merely wait for things to happen. DEFINING OR STATING THE PROBLEM (What question should be asked?) This includes questioning. and How. TEST THE HYPOTHESIS Your experiment tests whether your hypothesis is true or false. You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change only one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same. 1976) Types of Hypothesis • • Null Hypothesis Ho. What. a good experiment has only one independent variable.is the outcome or objective of the study. To insure a fair test. Alternative hypothesis H1-a claim that disagrees with null hypothesis. It is important to clearly define the problem in order to delimit it. . we are left with no choice but to fail to reject the alternative hypothesis that is population mean is not equal to hypothesized value.is the one that is changed by the biologist. unrecognized variation in the properties of different batches of the materials used in the experiment).) If appropriate.. they are forced to conclude that these were invalid. Summarize and evaluate your experimental procedure. making comments about its success and effectiveness. you will need to analyze the result of the experiment. state the relationship between the independent and dependent variable. Suggest changes in the experimental procedure (or design) and/or possibilities for further study. If scientists cannot duplicate their first results. • • • • 7. Its cause is usually some unrecognized. This is why scientists generally repeat their experiments several times before reporting them in a scientific paper. 6.g. STARTING A CONCLUSION After the process of experimentation and data gathering. RECORDING AND ANALYZING DATA After collecting the data. This problem occurs often. REPEATING THE WORK The single feature that is most characteristic of science is its reproducibility. COMMUNICATE YOUR RESULTS To complete. it is now important that the scientist make a conclusion. Your conclusions summarize how your results support or contradict your original hypothesis: • Summarize your science fair project results in a few sentences and use this summary to support your conclusion.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 5 5. With luck. (Engineering & programming projects should state whether they met their design criteria. the inability to reproduce experiments will be discovered by the same scientists who did the first experiments. . the biologist will communicate his results to others by publishing their final report in a scientific journal or by presenting their results on a poster at a scientific meeting. or chart. 8. factor in the experiment (e. The results can be presented in various forms. Include key facts from your background research to help explain your results as needed. such as a table. State whether your results support or contradict your hypothesis. graph. and hence uncontrolled. He wants to make sure that his experiment is free from error. Pasteur contradict on the idea not make a new one. Louis Pasteur conducted his experiment against spontaneous generation. Open-mindedness B. Louis did not accept the idea instead he goes against it. He done it even though many scientists during that time criticized his work and the possibility of failure is quite high. In the 1850’s many scientist thought that living things could arise from nonliving things. Curiosity D. Imagination is the creative ability of a biologist to invent a new idea.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 6 QUESTION AND ANSWER Direction: Select the best answer from the given choices. Humility B. Student Z conducts an experiment. 1. Honesty The correct answer is A. Even though during that time people believe more about it. He done it with care and he make sure that each procedure is based on the accepted standard. 1: Identify scientific traits and attitudes exhibited in various situations. Curiosity is the desire to know. Option D. Option C. Imagination C. Option C. Louis Pasteur. Competency No. Students Z tries to make sure that he will not committing mistake. Option D. Student Z tries to be accurate to his experiment. 2. Humility shows when a biologist admits that he is not free from committing error. Option B. Louis Pasteur did not have a hunch about the situation. What scientific attitude does Louis Pasteur posses based on this situation? A. Option A. He expresses his opinion even the risk of failure or criticism. Student Z maybe wants to know the result but being accurate shown more than being curious. Student Z maybe honest but it did show in the situation. a French microbiologist proved to his experiment that this is false. Open-mindedness is being receptive to arguments or ideas. Scientific Hunch The correct answer is B. What trait does Student Z posses? A. Accuracy C. Risk-taking D. Scientific hunch is a strong intuitive feeling concerning a future event or result. Honesty is being truthful. Mr. . Still the best answer is D. Objectivity Imagination Curiosity Belief The correct answer is D. D. Objectivity B. Belief C. .GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 7 3. Paolo makes a research proposal. C. Objectivity. A biologist believes that everything that happens in this world has a cause or reason not by pure luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect. and C did not have connection about the quote.Emerson What scientific trait this quote pertains to? A. HB does not conduct an experiment but still he is not influenced by his feeling or opinion regarding on toads.” . C. Responsibility. If we analyzed the quote of Emerson. Option C. HB shows that he did not easily believe what somebody told him. B. Option A. Humility B. the words cause and effect strongly support the trait belief. Objectivity C. Before he conducts the research he asked for advice of a biologist. HB does not show that he participates in a certain task. Belief. and D These trait did not showed by Paolo in this situation. What attitude does HB shown in this situation? A. Option D. 4. 5. Each trait has been explained in previous questions. chemist and physicist. What attitude Paolo posses? A. In a biology class. HB’s classmate told him that he get skin disease if he touched a toad. Option B. HB does not seek for the cause or reason why toads associated with skin disease instead he what’s to know if it is true or not. Critical Outlook The correct answer is D. B. Risk-Taking The correct answer is A. “Shallow men believe in luck. Responsibility D. Option A. HB went to the library and began to read all about toads to see if they really cause skin disease. He tries to seek for the truth through reading books. Responsibility D. Paolo is humble because he knew that there will be better ideas by consulting other science expert. Student A does not go around and observed things or look for possible answer in books or other references. . They are designed to help users obtain at a glance an intuitive feeling of the data. MONTH NUMBER OF TOADS January 20 February 32 March 44 April ? What will most likely be the number of toads in April? A. Students A already test the hypothesis. analyzing. 70 The correct answer is B. 49 C. Option A. Every month 12 toads are added in the list for that we can predict based on three consecutive months that on April there will be 56 toads already in that certain place. Option C. Graphs and Charts give the users a nice overview of the essential feature of the data. 2: Use scientific inquiry to investigate materials. C. organizing. Option A. State the Problem. Constructing charts and graphs and looking for patterns are part of which step of the scientific method? A. Usually chart and graph done during record and analyze data. 63 B.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 8 Competency No. Form a hypothesis D. it from a scientific guess on what will be the answer to the problem. making conclusion and communicating result) 6. it is a step in scientific method which seeks for a problem or question. Gather information C. collecting. State the problem B. and phenomena in natural world (designing. Gather Information. 7. The table below shows the number of toads at a certain time in a certain place. Option B. and interpreting data. Form a hypothesis. events. Record and analyze data The correct answer is D. and D is maybe possible but the trend of the information in the table shows there’s higher probability that 56 toads will be in that place. 56 D. The definition of determines is to make up one’s mind or resolved. D. Form a conclusion Form a hypothesis Gather information Record and analyze data The correct answer is C.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 9 8. C. and D are not the right answer because you need to gather first the needed information before you proceed in these three procedures. The word Determines usually means this step of the scientific method is being used. C. D. B. EVALUATE YOURSELF Direction: Select the best answer from the given choices. A. Option B. and D are not related on these action words. Information from Books. and D are not the correct answer because if you use determine you already done these steps. Experiment State the problem Form a conclusion Record and analyze The correct answer is A. 10. B. stirs or mixes are done during the executing or conducting an experiment. . The problem has already resolved that means we already reached the conclusion. B. A. 9. B. or mixes indicate which step of the scientific method is being used. experts. C. and the internet are ways of obtaining information for that the best answer is gather information Option B. Books. Experiments is the best answer because the words places. Action words such as places. C. and the Internet is used for which step of the scientific method. Experts. A. stirs. Option A. Experimental State the problem Form a conclusion Record and analyze data The correct answer is C. C. D. Humility C. In a biology class. B. What do you think Aida’s trait based on this situation? A. D. The Scientific Exploration The Scientific Method A Theory Logic 4. One of the judges approaches him and criticizes his work. What scientific trait does Ramon have? A. Curiosity D. D. B.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 10 1. This is the set of steps that scientists follow A. B. Ramon a sophomore student is one of the participants. even if they contradict his own ideas? A. C. She compares her findings to others. A biologist believes in a Chinese proverb that “If one does not dare to enter the tiger’s liar. B. C. Insecure Curiosity Objectivity Accuracy 3. What trait does he posses based on his statement? A. A curious mind An open mind A Intelligent mind Compassion 2. Critical Mindedness Scientific Hunch Critical Outlook Risk Taking 5. how can one obtain tiger clubs?” What is the scientific trait pertaining this quote? A. What does a person possess when he respects the ideas and opinions of others. Belief Risk-Taking Open-Mindedness Critical-Mindedness . C. D. C. D. B. Aida already finished her experiment. Objectivity 6. D. He accepts all of these. Belief B. Student K always states to his fellow classmates that everything that happens in this world has a cause or reason. He believes through criticisms he will be better someday. In science fair. C. D. A. B. She puts fertilizer on row 1 but does not put fertilizer on row 2. D. A. This is the starting point of any scientific investigation. systematic approach to the problem solving. “He who never made a mistake. never made a discovery. D. Both rows receive the same amount of water and light intensity. According to English Biologist Samuel Smiles (1812-1904). C. C. Experiment Conclusion Scientific Method Dimensional Analysis 9. D. Theory . This is a proposed solution to a scientific problem. Asking a question is part of which step of the scientific method? A. Problem Hypothesis Experiment Observation 11. C. She checks the growth of the corn over the course of 5 months. A. Data C. A. B. C. What is a constant in this experiment? A.” What scientific trait does this imply? A. Law B. C. Humility Curiosity Accuracy Risk-Taking 8. Theory D. Plant height Amount of water Corn with fertilizer Corn without fertilizer 13. it is the factor being tested.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 11 7. Conclusion 12. It is an orderly. B. B. When a biologist performs an experiment. B. D. Experimentation Statement of the problem Forming hypothesis Gathering information 10. A botanist plants two rows of corn for experimentation. A student decided to set up an experiment to see if cats preferred skim milk over 2%milk.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 12 B. She put out a cup of milk for 5 kittens and then measured how much the kittens drank over the course of a day. Experiment State the problem Form a hypothesis Form a conclusion 15. Which hypothesis best explains these observations? A. The picture shows the results of this test. There is no independent variable. C. What is wrong with the above experiment? A. 17. D. If and then are words used for which step of the scientific method? A. On clear days. B. Tessa designed an experiment to find out which mouthwash was most effective against some bacteria. the algae were found as much as 6 meters below the surface of the water but were only 1 meter below the surface on cloudy days. Nitrogen concentration affects the growth of algae. Hypothesis 14. A scientific study showed that the depth at which algae were found in a lake varied from day to day. Control C. D. She then incubated the plate for 24 hours. C. Use different kinds of bacteria Use the same size paper circles for all mouthwashes. Group one was given the new drug for asthma. Which of the following should Sarah do to improve her experiment? A. C. The milk should be served at different temperatures. The same kittens were used and the milk was served at the same temperature. She cut out four different circles from a paper towel and soaked each circle in a different mouthwash. What purpose does the sugar pill serve? . There are no constants present B. while group 2 was given a sugar pill. The student discovered that the cats liked the 2% milk more than the skim milk. D. Repeated experimentation is needed. Variable D. Wind currents affect the growth of algae Light intensity affects the growth of algae. She put the circles on a nutrient agar-coated Petri dish that was covered with bacteria commonly found in the mouth. C. Use the same type of mouthwash on each paper circle 18. D. Precipitation affects the growth of algae. B. 16. An experiment for a new asthma medication was set up into two groups. B. Use a smaller Petri dish. B. the same number of seeds. What is wrong with his experiment? . Based on the data. Communicating result D. D. What is the basis for a conclusion? A. A student decides to set up an experiment to see if detergent affects the growth of seeds. Report his data Test the chemical on other plants Determine that the results were inconclusive Determine that the chemical increases apple yield 22. Five of the seed pots will receive a small amount of detergent in the soil and will be placed in the sun. A scientist testing the effects of a chemical on apple yield sprays an orchard with the chemical. C. C. B. He sets up 10 seed pots. what should the scientist do? A. and the same type of seeds. D. Which of the following is the independent (manipulated) variable in the experiment? A. Experimentation . There is no way of measuring the outcome. The orchard sprayed with the chemical yields an average of 60 apples per tree.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 13 A. Formulating a hypothesis 23. C. C. There is no control set-up B. He grows the seeds for two months and charts the growth every 2 days. 20. the number of apples harvested from each forest is counted. The chemical The first orchard The number of apples The second orchard 21. Testing the data C. More than one variable is being tested. The other 5 seed pots will not receive detergent and will be placed in the shade. The student should have a larger number of pots. In the fall. All 10 seed pots will receive the same amount of water. Experimentation B. D. A second orchard does not receive the chemical. What is the step in the scientific method that requires an educated guess? A. A. B. D. Observation C. Control Constant Dependent variable Experimental variable 19. while the other orchard yields an average of 40 apples per tree. Hypothesis B. C. B. what is the logical explanation for observed fact called? A. D. Receive the same amount of sunlight Have the same species of apple tree Receive the same amount of water all of these 29. B. In order for the apple tree experiment to be valid scientifically. all scientific knowledge come which of the following: A.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 14 D. Prove hypotheses Determine truth from lies Explain large bodies of data Propose new ideas about how the world works . In science. Which of the following describe a hypothesis? A. D. B. D. Control Constant Dependent variable Independent variable 26. D. Textbooks Observation Experimentation both experimentation & observation 27. C. B. Conclusion Observation Tentative answer All the above 25. C. C. D. Ultimately. A. C. B. Experimental result 24. B. C. how should both orchards be treated? A. Guess Theory Factual Barometer 28. D. It is the measurable factor in an experiment. How do theories help scientists? A. A vote is taken on whether to accept the new evidence KEY TO CORRECTION 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 B D B D A C D C B A D B C C C C C . which of the following could occur? A. The theory could be altered C. The theory is accepted. If a theory is challenged by new evidence. The evidence is wrong B.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 15 30. not the evidence D. Bernie E. Company. Essential Biology. Essenfeld. . (1996). Tracy I. (2001). and Jane B. Reece. New York: Addison Wesley Longman. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company. Biology. Storer. General. (1979). Research Methods. Neil A. Basic Statistics for Health Sciences. (1992). Raymond. Boston: McGraw-Hill Companies.GENERAL EDUCATION: BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A B A D D D C C D B D C B BIBLIOGRAPHY Campbell. Boston: McGraw-Hill Companies. Sevilla. (2005). Inc. Zoology. et al. Chang. Consuelo G. et al. Jan W and Stephen E. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishing. Kuzma. et al. Chemistry. Quezon City: re printing Company. Bohnenblust (2005). Inc. Inc.