Unit 1
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The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method is a way for carrying out a scientific curiosity. In other words, it is a systematic way to find answers to questions that interest us. Though it is not a set of rigid steps (there is some flexibility to the system), there are general steps of the Scientific Method that are generally followed.
Below is a diagram that illustrates the steps of the Scientific Method:
Below is a diagram that illustrates the steps of the Scientific Method:
Correlation vs. Causation
Correlation is when there is a relationship between two things. For example, a study might show that students who study for an hour or more an evening perform better on their exams. The factors in this example are time studying and scores on the exam. When studying time increases, so do test scores. Conversely, when studying decreases, scores decrease. In this example, there is a definite correlation between the two factors. Causation is the idea that one of the factors causes the other. In this example, one may conclude that studying more causes students to perform better on an exam. While this example might make sense and even be true, just because there is a correlation between two variables does not necessarily mean that one caused the other. Not convinced? Watch the Freakonomics video below. Does eating ice cream cause you to get? See what the Freakonomics fellows have to say about it...
Below is a cartoon I made about how people often confuse things that are correlated (when there is a relationship between two things) with causation (the idea that one of the things caused the other to happen). HOWEVER, just because two things are correlated DOES NOT definitely mean that one caused the other. See if you can spot the joke at the end of my comic.
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Create a cartoon based on what you have learned in Bio class for extra credit!
(Make your cartoon using this free website OR draw one of your own and email a link to Ms. Mastro or bring a hard copy to class.) |