3.1.1 scientific method

Question 1

what are the stages to the scientific cycle

Answer 1

• observation
• construction of a testable hypothesis
• experimental design
• gathering, recording and analyssis of data
• evaluation of results and conclusions
• formation of a revised hypothesis if necessary

Question 2

in science, refinement of ideas is..

Answer 2

the norm.

Question 3

scientific knowledge can be thought of as…

Answer 3

the current best explanation, which may then be updated after evaluation of further experimental evidence

Question 4

what does the null hypothesis propose

Answer 4

there will be no statistically significant effect as a result of the experiment treatment

Question 5

what is a negative result

Answer 5

failure to find an effect

Question 6

when is a negative result valid

Answer 6

as long as an experiment is well designed.

Question 7

how can conflicting data or conclusions be resolved

Answer 7

through careful evaluation or further experimentation

Question 8

when is the null hypothesis rejected

Answer 8

when there is evidence for an effect, unlikely due to chance

Question 9

when can scientific ideas become accepted

Answer 9

once they have been checked independently

Question 10

what must effects be

Answer 10

reproducable. one off results must be treated with caution