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Biology !!! > 1.1 Practical Skills: Written Assessment > Flashcards

1.1 Practical Skills: Written Assessment Flashcards

1
Q

Describe ‘preliminary research’

A
  • Preliminary research can be very helpful when trying to design an experiment to investigate a particular theory or hypothesis.
  • Preliminary means to come before.
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2
Q

Why can researching other similar studies/experiments be helpful when designing a study?

A

It can help you with…
- Choosing the appropriate apparatus
- Using the correct techniques.
- Identifying variables
- Controlling other variables
- Recording and collecting data accurately
- Processing and presenting data in a useful way

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3
Q

What should the choice of apparatus and techniques be based on?

A
  • The science surrounding the issue being investigated.
  • For example, when testing the effect of different pH levels on enzyme activity it is crucial you know how to quantify/measure enzyme activity accurately, what other variables will affect the function of an enzyme, etc.
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4
Q

What happens once the preliminary research has been completed, and why is it important?

A
  • Preliminary studies can be conducted to further aid the experimental design.
  • These studies are important for…
    —> identifying additional variables that might affect the experiment.
    —> finding the best way to control these variables.
    —> deciding on the quantities and volumes of substances that are needed so you do not run out of reactants/reagents.
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5
Q

Why will experiments conducted without any preliminary research/studies likely be invalid?

A
  • Because the other variables that affect the results i the experiments will not have been identified and controlled.
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6
Q

What is a variable and describe the different types?

A
  • In an experiment, a variable is any factor that could change or be changed.
  • Independent variable: the variable that is manipulated throughout the experiment.
  • Dependent variable: the variable that is measured to determine the outcome of the experiment.
  • Controlled/confounding variables: any other variables that may affect the results of the experiment that need to be controlled or monitored.
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7
Q

Why should controlled variables be kept constant?

A
  • If they aren’t, they could affect the results of the experiment, making them unreliable.
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8
Q

What is one good way to evaluate an experimental design?

A
  • By repeating the experiment yourself (using the instructions provided) and determining if you can produce similar results.
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9
Q

What 5 things do you have to consider when analysing and criticising the design of an experiment?

A
  1. Method limitations
  2. Accuracy
  3. Precision
  4. Reliability
  5. Validity
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10
Q

Describe method limitation

A
  • Any experimental design flaw/fault in the method that affects the accuracy of the results.
  • It is crucial that any limitations within an experiment are identified and removed/corrected.
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11
Q

Describe accuracy

A
  • How close a reading/measurement is to its true value.
  • Can be reduced by the presence of errors in an experiments…
    —> systematic errors: faulty instruments/flaws in the experimental method that are repeated consistently every time the instrument is used or the method is followed.
    —> random errors: unexpected environmental changed or incorrect use of equipment, different each time the experiment is carried out.
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12
Q

Describe precision

A
  • How similar repeat readings/measurements are to each other.
  • Readings that are tightly clustered together (a small range) are described as precise.
  • The precision of a measurement is reflected in the values recorded—measurements to a greater number of decimal places are said to be more precise than those to a whole number.
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13
Q

Describe reliability

A
  • The degree that the results of a given study can be repeated or replicated under the same conditions.
  • A study with high reliability is one that has consistent results each time it is conducted.
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14
Q

Describe validity

A
  • Accuracy of the results
  • The other variables in the experiment are identified and controlled in order to ensure the validity of an experiment.
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15
Q

Describe instructions in research

A
  • Scientists always record instructions for their experiments so that they can be repeated.
  • Instructions should allow an individual to successfully carry out the experiment without any additional help or input.
  • Important to record all required details within these instructions, e.g…
    —> The apparatus used
    —> The quantities of specific reactants/reagents used
    —> the species of model organism used
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16
Q

What are the rules regarding significant figures?

A
  • All non-zero digits are significant.
  • Zeros between non-zero digits are significant.
  • Zeros after non-zero digits within a number with decimals are significant.
  • Zeros that come before all non-zero digits are not significant.
  • Zeros after non-zero digits within a number without decimals are not significant.
17
Q

Describe qualitative experiments

A
  • Involve collecting and recording observations
18
Q

Describe quantitative experiments

A
  • Involve collecting and recording numerical data
19
Q

What graphical format should be used if the data is qualitative and discrete?

A
  • Bar charts
  • Pie charts
20
Q

What graphical format should be used if the data is continuous?

A
  • Line graphs
  • Scatter grams
21
Q

What is the difference between precision and accuracy?

A
  • Precision refers to the ability to take multiple readings with an instrument that are close to each other, whereas accuracy is the closeness of those measurements to the true value.
22
Q

Precise measurements are ones in which there is _ _ _ about the mean value.

A
  • very little spread
23
Q

How do you reduce random error?

A
  • Repeat measurements several times and calculate an average from them.
24
Q

How do you reduce systematic error?

A
  • Instruments should be recalibrated, or different instruments should be used.
  • Corrections or adjustments should be made to the technique.
25
Q

What is uncertainty in the context of research?

A
  • The amount of error your measurements might contain.
  • Results from experiments always contain some error (they are never perfect).
26
Q

Why will there always be a small degree of uncertainty in your readings or measurements?

A
  • Because the accuracy and precision of the apparatus being used is limited.
27
Q

How can percentage error be calculated and why is it helpful?

A
  • With the margin of error
  • Helps quantify the margin of error and its possible impact on the results.
28
Q

How do you calculate the percentage error of your measurements?

A

Percentage error = (uncertainty value/your measurement) x 100

29
Q

A percentage error less than _% is considered statistically not significant.

A

5%

30
Q

Define resolution

A
  • The smallest change in the quantity being measured of a measuring instrument that gives a perceptible change in the reading.
  • In imaging, resolution can also be described as the ability to see two structures as separate structures rather than one fuzzy entity.
31
Q

Smaller measuring instruments have _ resolution scales due to the _ _ on the scale. This means they have _ margins of error.

A
  • Higher
  • Smaller graduations
  • Smaller
32
Q

Define mean value

A

The average value of a data set

33
Q

Define standard deviation

A
  • Measure of the spread of dispersion of data around the mean
34
Q

What does a small standard deviation indicate?

A
  • Results lie close to the mean meaning there is less variation.
35
Q

What does a large standard deviation indicate?

A
  • Results are more spread out.
36
Q

What does the overlap (or lack thereof) between the standard deviation of different sets of data tell you?

A
  • If there is overlap between the standard deviations then it can be said that the results are not significantly different.
  • If there is no overlap between the standard deviations then it can be said that the results are significantly different.
37
Q

What is the difference between discrete and continuous data?

A
  • Discrete data is numerical data that can only take certain values in a range, e.g., shoe size, whereas continuous data is numerical data that can take any value in a range, e.g., height or weight.
38
Q

Conclusions about an experiment can only be drawn from the results once they have been _ _.

A
  • Properly evaluated
39
Q

Experimental errors will affect the results of an experiment and can produce _ .

A
  • Anomalies

Biology !!! (27 decks)

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