Concept explainers
Once there was a highly intelligent turkey that had nothing to do but reflect on the world’s regularities. Morning always started out with the sky turning light, followed by the master’s footsteps, which were always followed by the appearance of food. Other things varied, but food always followed footsteps. The sequence of events was so predictable that it eventually became the basis of the turkey’s theory about the goodness of the world. One morning, after more than 100 confirmations of this theory, the turkey listened for the master’s footsteps, heard them, and had its head chopped off.
Any scientific theory is modified or discarded upon discovery of contradictory evidence. The absence of absolute certainty has led some people to conclude that “theories are irrelevant because they can change.” If that is so, should we stop doing scientific research? Why or why not?
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Chapter 1 Solutions
Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (MindTap Course List)
- Figure 1.6 In the example below, the scientific method is used to solve an everyday problem. Order the scientific method steps (numbered items) with the process of solving the everyday problem (lettered items). Based on the results of the experiment, is the hypothesis correct? If it is incorrect, propose some alternative hypotheses. Observation Question Hypothesis (answer) Prediction Experiment Result There is something wrong with the electrical outlet. If something is wrong with the outlet, my coffeemaker also won’t work when plugged into it. My toaster doesn’t toast my bread. I plug my coffee maker into the outlet. My coffeemaker works. Why doesn't my toaster work?arrow_forwardPlato and Aristotle agreed on which of the following philosophical doctrines? the metaphysical idea that particulars (not universals) are the only things that really exist the epistemological view that empiricism is the only path to true knowledge the metaphysical idea that universals (not particulars) are the only things that really exist the epistemological view that rationalism is the only path to true knowledge the metaphysical idea that the natural laws governing our world do not change over timearrow_forwardWhich of the following is a primary argument against Intelligent Design? a) It violates the scientific method by appealing to supernatural explanations b) It has been extensively tested and confirmed through scientific experiments c) It has been widely accepted by the scientific community as a valid scientific theory d) It is based on empirical evidence and observations of the natural worldarrow_forward
- 1. If quantitative change were all that existed, what would a butterfly be? What would a human being be? First, think about how a butterfly and a human start out; then think of how that being would end up if only quantitative change existed. Try your best on this question. Remember that the professor provides the expected answer. Do not copy an answer from students in previous semesters as this practice prevents true understanding of concepts.arrow_forwardChoose one. Which of the following is likely to have caused the Bay of Pigs Invasion? Abilene Paradox Bounded rationality Ludic Fallacy Garbage can model Groupthinkarrow_forwardWhich of the following is LEAST consistent with how behavior tends to evolve? Changes to underlying neural mechanisms, such as neurotransmitter receptors that affect motivation, can result in major changes in behavioral phenotypes Tweaks to the developmental process, such as play or learning, can cause evolutionary divergence in behavior Changes in the properties of sensory receptors can shift preferences and choices Variation in the gene for a given behavior results in population divergence Why are there biases in learning processes? The initial neural structure underlying learning may not allow every possible learned association Some cues are more likely than others to be associated with particular things, which has shaped the evolution of neural networks that represent the world Reducing the range of possible things a brain can learn can be one way to reduce the costs of learning All of the abovearrow_forward
- Which of the following is true about evolutionary psychology? a. Natural selection works differently in humans than other animals. b. It is easy to test evolutionary hypotheses by doing experiments. c.Most social behaviors are genetically determined with little influence by the social environment. d. Evolutionary approaches can generate novel hypotheses about social behavior that can then be tested with experiments.arrow_forwardHumans play a significant role in society and in the environment. As a product of the previous generation, how can you contribute in improving our society for the benefit of the next generation?arrow_forwardCan science ever replace religion, or vice versa? How do people reconcile religious and scientific explanations? Are scientific and religious explanations philosophically incompatible? What kind of biases do people have about scientists? Why is there so much antagonism in media dialogues between believers and atheists?arrow_forward
- Which of the following definitions are consistent with the scientific meaning/use of the word theory? Check all that apply A proposed explanation for a natural phenomenon that is based on general principles A guess for why a particular scientific observation was made A description for natural phenomena that is based on a group of scientists' ideas, not knowledge or evidence. A collection of related concepts that are supported by evidence and explain observed facts for a natural phenomenon. A description of a natural phenomenon that scientists are uncertain about, but like the sound of.arrow_forwardWhich of the following is an associative behavior in which two organisms have no effect on one another? Question 3 options: Amensalism Neutralism Commensalism Parasitism The breeding of an organism for a specific trait is called: Question 10 options: Artificial Selection Behavioral Adaptation Structural Adaptation Evolutionarrow_forwardHow intelligent is domestic cat compare to domestic dog? Why can’t cats be sane size of large dogs? If they did get that big is that because of evolution or domestic cats eat a lot of cat food to get huge as dogs from kittenarrow_forward
- Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStax