1.6 The AP Science Practices

🚩 paper text pages 10-15  🚫 Digital textbook is different than the paper textbook.         🚫 The textbook has printed OLD science practices from the AP.

⬇️ Below reflect the newer AP science practices.

1. The AP Science Practices

   1. practices in which every science student should be proficient

   2. abbreviated SP

   3. linked to every question found on the end of course exam

   4. Not from the textbook.🚫 Retired the printed AP Science Practices in 2019. These are the new SPs. 

      1. Concept Explanation; Explain biological concepts, processes, and models presented in written format.

         1. Describe biological concepts and/or processes.

         2. explain biological concepts and/or processes.

         3. Explain biological concepts, processes, and/or models in applied contexts.

      2. Visual Representations; Analyze visual representations of biological concepts and processes.

         1. Describe characteristics of a biological concept, process, or model represented visually.

         2. Explain relationships between different characteristics of biological concepts, processes, or models represented visually

            1. In theoretical contexts

            2. In applied contexts

         3. Explain how biological concepts or processes represented visually relate to larger biological principles, concepts, processes, or theories.

         4. Represent relationships within biological models, including 

            1. Mathematical models.

            2. Diagrams.

            3. Flow charts.

      3. Questions and Methods

         1. Identify or pose a testable question based on an observation, data, or a model.

            1. State the null hypotheses, or predict the results of an experiment.

         2. Identify experimental procedures that are aligned to the question, including a. Identifying dependent and independent variables.

         3. Identifying appropriate controls.

         4. Justifying appropriate controls.

         5. Make observations, or collect data from representations of laboratory setups or results. 

         6. Propose a new/next investigation based on 

            1. a. An evaluation of the evidence from an experiment.

            2. An evaluation of the design/methods.

      4. Representing and Describing Data

         1. Construct a graph, plot, or chart (X,Y; Log Y; Bar; Histogram; Line, Dual Y; Box and Whisker; Pie).

            1. Orientation

            2. Labeling

            3. units 

            4. Scaling

            5. Plotting

            6. Type

            7. Trend line

         2. Describe data from a table or graph, including 

            1. Identifying specific data points.

            2. Describing trends and/or patterns in the data.

            3. Describing relationships between variables.

      5.  Statistical Tests and Data Analysis;  Perform statistical tests and mathematical calculations to analyze and interpret data.

         1. Perform mathematical calculations, including 

            1. Mathematical equations in the curriculum.

            2. b. Means.

            3. Rates.

            4. Ratios.

            5.  Percentages.

         2. Use confidence intervals and/or error bars (both determined using standard errors) to determine whether sample means are statistically different.

         3. Perform chi-square hypothesis testing.

         4. Use data to evaluate a hypothesis (or prediction), including

            1. Rejecting or failing to reject the null hypothesis. 

            2. Supporting or refuting the alternative hypothesis.

      6. Argumentation

         1. Make a scientific claim.

         2. Support a claim with evidence from biological principles, concepts, processes, and/or data.

         3. Provide reasoning to justify a claim by connecting evidence to biological theories.

         4. Explain the relationship between experimental results and larger biological concepts, processes, or theories.

         5. Predict the causes or effects of a change in, or disruption to, one or more components in a biological system based on:

            1. Biological concepts or processes

            2. A visual representation of a biological concept, process, or model

            3. Data

2. The Process of Science

   1. biological sciences are varied and distinct

      1. there are many fields of biology

      2. life can be studied at the many different hierarchal orders

      3. the scientific process uses the scientific method 

         1. a standard series of steps used in gaining new knowledge that is widely  accepted among scientists

         2. acts as a guide for scientists

         3. can be modified and adapted to the topic being studied (not always an experiment)

         4. Parts of the Process

            1. Observation

               1. the assumption is that nature is orderly and measurable

               2. formal way of recording phenomena and events in the natural world

               3. can be the five senses

               4. implementation of instruments and tools to learn beyond what is "seen"

               5. applying knowledge and experiences (known science observations)

            2. Hypothesis

               1. formulating possible explanation through an informed statement about a prediction of a scientific outcome about natural phenomena

                  1. not merely a guess

                  2. a culmination of a scientist's knowledge

                  3. only includes ideas that can be tests (and void of moral and religious beliefs)

                  4. inductive reasoning is where a scientist uses creative thinking to combine isolated facts into a cohesive whole 

                     1. creating a an explanation from observations

            3. Predictions and Experiments

               1. an experiment is a series of procedures to test a hypothesis

                  1. implements deductive reasoning with is where scientists test a prediction using an "if, then" logic

                     1. scientists can make a prediction  about the outcome of their experiment

                     2. What are the expected results knowing the applicable theory or law?

                  2. an experimental design is the setup of a scientist uses to conduct an experiment

                     1. parts of a good design include:

                        1. experimental variable (also known as the independent variable)  is the factor being tested - it is the treatment in the experiment)

                        2. responding variable  (also known as the dependent variable) is the result or change observed that occurs due to the experimental variable

• most often the data collected during the experiment

2. 1. 3. 4. 4. the experimental data is often compared to a control group

               1. part of a controlled experiment

               2. not exposed to the environmental changes of the experimental variable

               3. this group is used for comparison to the changes due to experimentation

                  1. if there are differences between experimental group and the control group, then there might be support for the hypothesis

                  2. if there is NOT a difference between the two groups, then the hypothesis will not be supported

            5. using a model can help test a hypothesis 

               1. can be:

                  1. model organism

                     1. organisms used in the process of applying environmental changes

                     2. many science labs use mice and fruit flies as model organisms

                  2. model system

                     1. allows for control of specific variables not possible in the natural environment

                     2. can be computer simulations

            6. Presenting and Analyzing Data

               1. the results from an experiment are called data

                  1. presented in an array of formats

                     1. tables

                     2. graphs

                  2. use of statistics

                     1. evaluating the significance of the data is helped through statistical data

                        1. standard error and standard deviation (±) 

• How do the data compare to each other? 

• How far from average are the data sets from experimental trials?

• On graphs a standard error can be shown by the bars above and below the data point (visual of the statistical analysis of the data)

2. 1. 3. 4. 6. 1. 2. 2. evaluating the results a result of an environmental factor (maybe the experimental variable) OR  random chance is important  for statistical significance

                        1. experimenters can calculate the probable value (p)  that the results were due random chance

• a value less than 5% (often written as p < 0.05) is acceptable

• the lower the p value the less the data was generated by chance

• a low p value leads investigators to confidence in the results 

2. 1. 3. 4. 7. Scientific Publications

               1. scientific work to be mass distributed to the scientific community through scientific journals

                  1. getting published is an important goal to be an established scientist

                  2. some example scientific journals (there are many different publications - these are ones you might have heard of before): 

                     1. Nature

                     2. Science

                     3. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)

                  3. work completed in science investigations is peer reviewed by other experts in the scientific field

                     1. articles are reviewed for credibility, accuracy, lack of bias, and investigation execution

                     2. the design of the article would make it possible for other scientists to reproduce the experiment

                        1. application to different situations or environments

                        2. verify the results in the published work

                  4. sometimes articles are rejected for publication if there is an issue

                     1. questionable design procedure

                     2. inappropriate manner in the way the experiment was conducted

                     3. applies pressure on authors to carefully consider all aspects of their investigation

                     4. publication can take several rounds of redesign, replication, and review before an author is published

            8. Scientific Theory

               1. developing scientific theories is the goal of science

                  1. to explain what is understood about the natural world

                  2. culmination of well-supported and related hypotheses

                  3. very specific in science as opposed to the use in ordinary speech

                     1. not a speculative idea

                     2. supported by a broad range of observations, experiments, and data

                     3. supported by a variety of different scientific disciplines

                  4. some basic biology theories

                     1. cell theory; all organisms are composed of cells, and new cells come only from preexisting cells

                     2. homeostasis theory; the internal environmental of an organism stays relatively constant within a range that is protective of life

                     3. evolution theory; all living organisms have a common ancestor, but each is adapted to a particular way of life