Biology 1105 - Lecture 1: The Scientific Method

Introduction

• Professor: Ros
• Excited about the course starting September 9th
• Two recorded lectures for the week
• Lecture focus: Scientific method, questions, hypotheses, and predictions

Overview of Lecture Content

• Summary slide at the beginning of each lecture
• Study guide available on Brightspace
• Aim to connect familiar high school concepts with engaging examples

Observation Activity

• Initial video clips from Kenya and the Himalayas
• Encourage students to think about:
  • Observations made
  • Questions raised
  • Assumptions based on prior knowledge

Importance of Asking Questions in Science

• Science is an open-ended quest for understanding
• Limitless inquiries exist; some questions are better than others
• Background knowledge is essential:
  • Textbooks, peer-reviewed papers, expert knowledge, personal observations
• New and relevant questions contribute to scientific knowledge

Origins of Scientific Questions

• Curiosity and exploration
• Need to solve practical problems
• Previous scientific studies and discussions

Example: Alexander Fleming

• 1928 discovery of penicillin from contaminated Petri dish
• Accident led to important scientific questions about antibacterial effects

Hypotheses and Predictions

• Hypothesis: Testable explanation for a research question
  • Must lead to predictions that can be tested
• Iterative process: Observation ➔ Questions ➔ Hypotheses ➔ Predictions ➔ Data collection

Historical Examples of Hypotheses

1. Spontaneous Generation vs. Biogenesis
   • Aristotle's idea that living things arise from non-living matter
   • Louis Pasteur's experiments disproved spontaneous generation
2. Bird Migration Question
   • Aristotle's hypotheses on bird hibernation and migration
   • Evidence gathered in the 1800s confirmed migratory behavior

The Role of Creativity in Science

• Science involves a balance of creative and critical thinking
• Collaboration enhances scientific discovery
• Mistakes in studies are common; science updates beliefs based on evidence

Common Misconceptions

1. Asking questions is hard: Brainstorm freely; great scientists ask many questions
2. Unsuccessful hypotheses indicate failure: Refuting hypotheses is a part of good science

Scientific Question Types

• Descriptive Questions: What, where, when
• Causal Questions: Why, what causes

Distinguishing Hypotheses from Predictions

• Hypothesis: Explanation for observed phenomenon
• Prediction: Expected outcome if hypothesis is true
  • Can often be framed as if-then statements

Case Study: Snail Grouping

• Observation: Sea snails clustering in groups
  • Questions & Hypotheses: Shelter from waves or predator protection
  • Predictions: Based on hypotheses, experimental design outlined

Conclusion from Experiments

• Null Hypothesis: Negation of hypotheses
• Importance of specific predictions to distinguish between multiple hypotheses

Practice Questions

1. Discuss outcomes based on experimental conditions about snail grouping
2. Analyze running speed hypothesis related to sleep

Closing Remarks

• First lecture concludes; follow-up lecture in the same week
• Encouragement to think critically and creatively in scientific inquiries.