BIOL 1209 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Euphorbia Esula, Andropogon Gerardi, Scientific Method
Document Summary
Chapter 1: a brief outline of the scientific method. Objectives: learn about the process of science and the steps of a scientific investigation, learn the components of a good pattern, hypothesis, & predictions. Background: the steps of the scientific method are outlined below. Under each step there are definitions, considerations, and examples of each step. However the following chapters will go into further detail on statistical analyses and report writing: pattern: a pattern is phenomenon in nature that requires an explanation. A hypothesis is simply an answer to the question why does this pattern or observation take place? a scientific hypothesis addresses a scientific mechanism or theory and it must be falsifiable. It is based on both basic scientific knowledge and observations drawn from field and literature. A good hypothesis can be used to generate specific, testable predictions (see figure 1. 1).
