Biologist _____________________________
1-2: Science In Context
Introduction
1. Define the word BIAS.
2. What do you think the role of bias in science?
3. After watching this clip, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYPgi1oUqXA, what did
you learn about the role of bias in science?
4. What is a theory?
5. What is a hypothesis?
6. Complete a the following Venn Diagram using these terms, but be careful… NOT all
of the following should be used…: ONE PERSON, MANY PEOPLE, CAN
CHANGE, TAKES MANY YEARS TO MAKE, CAN NEVER CHANGE, BASED ON
OBSERVATION AND INFERENCE, CAN BE MADE AT ANY TIME, UNIFIES
MANY HYPOTHESIS AND CONCLUSIONS, HELPS UNDERSTAND THE
NATURAL WORLD, IS A FACT
Reading Guide for Section 1-2: Science in Context
Exploration and Discovery: Where Ideas Come From
Scientific methodology is closely linked to _____________ and _____________. Good scientists share
_____________ _____________, or habits of mind, that lead them to exploration and discovery. New
ideas are generated by _____________, _____________, _____________, and _____________.
1. How are science and technology related?
Communicating Results: Reviewing and Sharing Ideas
Communication and __________ of ideas are vital to modern science. Scientists share their findings
with the scientific community by publishing articles that undergo _____________. In peer review,
scientific papers are reviewed by _____________, independent experts. Publishing peer-reviewed
articles scientific journals allows scientists to _________ ___________ and test and _____________ each
other’s work. Once research has been published, it enters the _____________ marketplace of
scientific ideas. New ideas fit into scientific understanding by leading to _______ hypotheses that
must be independently _____________ by controlled _____________.
Scientific Theories
In science, the word theory applies to a well-tested explanation that _____________ a broad range of
observations and _____________ and that enables scientists to make accurate _____________ about
new situations. No _____________ is considered absolute truth. Science is always _____________; as
new evidence is uncovered, a theory may be reviewed or replaced by a more useful explanation.
For Questions 2-6, identify whether each statement is a hypothesis or a theory. For a hypothesis,
write an “H” on the line. For a theory, write a “T.”
2. The rate that grass grows is related to the amount of light it receives.
3. All life is related and descended from a common ancestor.
4. The universe began about 15 billion years ago.
5.
New tennis balls bounce higher than old tennis balls.
6.
Caffeine raises blood pressure.
Science and Society
Using science involves understanding its context in society and its _____________. Understanding
science helps people make _____________ that also involve cultural customs, values, and ethical
standards. Can help people predict the _____________ of their actions and plan the future.
Scientists strive to be _____________, but when science is applied in society, it can be affected by
________, a point of view that is personal rather than scientific.