More than just a collection of facts, science is a process for understanding the world.

• 1.1 What is science? What is biology?
• 1.2 Biological literacy is essential in the modern world.
• 1.3 Scientific thinking is a powerful approach to understanding the world.

A beginner’s guide: what are the steps of the scientific method?

• 1.4 Thinking like a scientist: how do you use the scientific method?
• 1.5 Step 1: Make observations.
• 1.6 Step 2: Formulate a hypothesis.
• 1.7 Step 3: Devise a testable prediction.
• 1.8 Step 4: Conduct a critical experiment.
• 1.9 Step 5: Draw conclusions, make revisions.
• 1.10 When do hypotheses become theories, and what are theories?

Well-designed experiments are essential to testing hypotheses.

• 1.11 Controlling variables makes experiments more powerful.
• 1.12 This is how we do it: Is arthroscopic surgery for arthritis of the knee beneficial?
• 1.13 Repeatable experiments increase our confidence.
• 1.14 We’ve got to watch out for our biases.

Scientific thinking can help us make wise decisions.

• 1.15 Visual displays of data can help us understand and explain phenomena.
• 1.16 Statistics can help us in making decisions.
• 1.17 Pseudoscience and misleading anecdotal evidence can obscure the truth.
• 1.18 There are limits to what science can do.

On the road to biological literacy: what are the major themes in biology.

• 1.19 What is life? Important themes unify and connect diverse topics in biology.