BIOL 1001 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Uniformitarianism, Gradualism, Subsequence

47 views8 pages
9 May 2013
Department
Course
Professor

Document Summary

Incorrect ideas, animals become superstitious (push lever and delay before food delivered, develop strange behaviours during the lag that they repeat and associate w/food, self-association/conditioning) Limitations only natural phenomena, can"t deal w/belief/faith, no moral/aesthetic. Method observe phenomenon, propose explanation, test through series of explanation accurate/valid (if explanation matches what"s observed, reproduction) or revised/alternative explanation proposed. Pseudoscience = individuals make scientific-sounding claims not supported by trustworthy, methodical scientific studies (statement may be true, but relationship isn"t) Anecdotal evidence = based on only 1/few observations, not rigorously studied, not large enough sample size. Logical fallacies post hoc, ergo propter hoc (it happened after, so it was caused by ), confusion of correlation/causation. Evidence and proof hypotheses and theories may be supported by evidence but not proven. Believe and accept subject to peer review/replication, science based on inferences based on evidence. Function and purpose designed tools have purposes, structures/behaviours of living things have functions.