Scientific Method - Lecture notes 1 PDF

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Lecture given on September 3, 2019 by Dr. Ashley McKeown. She discussed how the Scientific Method relates to biological anthropology and how to apply it....

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Biological Anthropology

Scientific Method    

Observation Hypothesis: Must be testable Test Hypothesis Results

Why do same species look different?  Selective breeding= variation  Species can and do change overtime (evolutionary change) o Example: Bacteria, Animals, Humans, etc. Advantages of Scientific Method  It is self-correcting  Designed to be repeated with new studies Caveats of Science  Science is influenced by the culture that practices it o What questions we chose to ask o How we perceive empirical observation Applying to Anthropology    

Understand events that took place in the past Data from past events create hypothesis Modern experiments test hypothesis Old data compared to models to see if it matches; reject or accept

Olorgesailie. Kenya 1 Mya     

Found hand axes and stone tools Animal bones with linear grooves Hypothesis: Using stone tools to kill animals? Used modern experiments to create alternate Hypothesis Linear grooves suggest hunting of animals

9/3/19...