Unit 3: investigative biology

Question 1

Hypothesis

Answer 1

Predication of a relationship between independent and dependant variables

Question 2

Null hypothesis

Answer 2

easy to test predications that there is no relationship between the independent and dependant variable

Question 3

Peer review

Answer 3

appraisal of a piece of work or a scientific report by an independent expert in the relevant field

Question 4

Plagiarism

Answer 4

copying the work of others without acknowledgement

Question 5

Reducation

Answer 5

lowering the numbers of an organism used in a study in order to minimise harm to a species

Question 6

Refinement

Answer 6

the consideration and adoption of methods to minimise harm to a species, including improved animal accommodation and veterinary provision

Question 7

Replacement

Answer 7

use of alternative to whole organisms in a study to minimise harm to a species

Question 8

Replication

Answer 8

repeating an experiment either within the study or independently to improve reliability

Question 9

Review article

Answer 9

expert report that summarises all that is known about an area of interest

Question 10

Accuracy

Answer 10

The degree of closeness to the true, actual value of measurement

Question 11

Box plot

Answer 11

Graph showing a data set arranged into numerical order and divided into upper quartile, an interquartile range and a lower quartile

Question 12

Causation

Answer 12

A link between variables in which one variable is known to be directly affecting the other

Question 13

Confounding variables

Answer 13

Factors that influence the results of an experiment and cause mistaken associations between the independent and dependent variable to be made

Question 14

Continuous variable

Answer 14

Variable that can be measured and for which infinite values exist

Question 15

Correlation

Answer 15

A relationship between two variables that does not imply causation

Question 16

Dependant variable

Answer 16

Factor that is measured to obtain experimental data

Question 17

Discrete variable

Answer 17

Variable that must fall into clear-cut categories

Question 18

Error bar

Answer 18

Line through a data point drawn parallel to an axis showing the variation in the data for that point or the extent of the data for which there is a 95% expectation that the true mean lies along it

Question 19

In vitro

Answer 19

Experimental produce carried out in laboratory conditions using parts of organisms such as cells or tissues

Question 20

In vivo

Answer 20

Procedures carried out in laboratory or field conditions using entire, living organisms

Question 21

Independent data sets

Answer 21

Repeated data sets that are collected in different labs by different workers and at different times but under the same general conditions

Question 22

Line of best fit

Answer 22

Straight line drawn through a scatter plot that indicates the trend shown by the data

Question 22

Independent variable

Answer 22

Experimental variable that is purposely altered by the investigator

Question 23

Mean

Answer 23

Measure of central tendency obtained by summing data and dividing by the number of individual items of data

Question 24

Mode

Answer 24

Measure of central tendency obtained by indenturing the most common value in a data set

Question 25

Multi factorial

Answer 25

An experimental situation in which there is more than one dependent variable

Question 26

Negative control

Answer 26

An experimental aspect in which the independent variable is set at zero, or at no treatment, with the aim of producing a negative result

Question 27

Observational studies

Answer 27

Work that is usually carried out in the field or in vivo, and usually produces qualitative data

Question 28

Pilot study

Answer 28

A small-scale study conducted to refine values for independent and controlled variables prior to conducting an experiment

Question 29

Placebos

Answer 29

Negative controls used in drug and vaccine trials that do not contain the active ingredient being tested

Question 30

Positive control

Answer 30

An experimental aspect set up to show that system is capable of detecting a positive result should it occur

Question 31

Precision

Answer 31

The closeness of repeated measurements of a variable

Question 32

Qualitative data

Answer 32

Data with descriptive values

Question 33

Quantitative data

Answer 33

Data with numerical values

Question 34

Random sampling

Answer 34

Sampling in a way to ensure all individuals had an equal chance of being selected in order to obtain a statistically representative sample

Question 35

Randomised block design

Answer 35

Experimental protocol in which the effects of potentially confounding variables can be reduced

Question 36

Range

Answer 36

The difference between the two extremes of a set numerical data

Question 37

Ranked data

Answer 37

Data that has been transformed into arbitrary groups

Question 38

Reliability

Answer 38

The degree of confidence that an experimental procedure can produce consistent values

Question 39

Representative sample

Answer 39

A sample that shares the same mean and same degree of variation about the mean as the population as a whole

Question 40

Standard deviation

Answer 40

Value given for the spread or variation in data

Question 41

Standard error of the mean

Answer 41

Value for the standard deviations of sample means to the overall mean of a data set

Question 42

Systematic sampling

Answer 42

Sampling at regular intervals in space or time to take account of a gradient, such as a slop, a tidal cycle or seasonal changes

Question 43

Stratified sampling

Answer 43

Dividing a population into groups or strata before carrying out the sampling to take account of perceived differences int he individuals, such as size or age

Question 44

Validity

Answer 44

Refers to the control of variables to produce fair testing

Question 45

Variable

Answer 45

Factor in an experiment that is changeable or can change