3.2 Flashcards

1
Q

pilot study

A

a preliminary small scale study conducted to help decide how best to conduct a large scale research project.

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2
Q

independent variable

A

variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment

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3
Q

dependent variable

A

variable tested and measured in a scientific experiment

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4
Q

confounding variable

A

variable which affects the dependent variable that is not the independent variable

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5
Q

continuous variation

A

characteristic that can be measured and it shows a wide range occurring between two extreme measurements

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6
Q

discrete variation

A

characteristic that shows a definite number of easily observed clear-cut types

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7
Q

quantitative data

A

data that is measured (eg. numbers)

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8
Q

qualitative data

A

data that is observed (eg. colour)

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9
Q

ranked data

A

observations put in order from smallest to largest

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10
Q

positive control

A

treatment that is included to check that the system can detect a positive result when it occurs

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11
Q

negative control

A

provides results in the absence of a treatment

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12
Q

precision

A

the closeness of repeated measurements to one another

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13
Q

accuracy

A

a measure of how close the data, or means of data sets, are are to the true value

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14
Q

validity

A

all confounding variables controlled so that any measured effect is likely to be due to the independent variable.

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15
Q

reliability

A

consistent values in repeats and independent replicates

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16
Q

in-vivo

A

an investigation carried out using a living organism e.g. mouse model organism

17
Q

in-vitro

A

an investigation carried out using biological molecules or cells out with their normal biological system e.g. cell culture

18
Q

simple experimental design

A

experimental design where only 1 independent variable is changed at a time

19
Q

multifactorial experimental design

A

experimental design is more complex and involves a combination of more than one independent variable or combination of treatments

20
Q

randomised block

A

minimise the effects of when confounding variables cannot easily be controlled

21
Q

observational studies

A

the independent variable is not directly controlled by the investigator, for ethical or logistical reasons

22
Q

causation

A

when changing the independent variable causes the effect noted in the dependent variable

23
Q

representative sample

A

should share the same mean and the same degree of variation about the mean as the population as a whole

24
Q

stratified sampling

A

the population is divided into categories that are then sample proportionally

25
random sampling
members of the population have an equal chance of being selected
26
systematic sampling
members of a population are selected at regular intervals
27
placebos
placebos can be include as a treatment without the presence of the independent variable being investigated
28
placebo effect
a measurable change in the dependent variable as a result of a patient's expectations, rather than changes in the independent variable.
29
box plots
used to show variation within and between data sets
30
mean
the arithmetical average, add all values and divide by the number there are of them
31
median
the middle point from the range of values
32
mode
the most common values in a set of data
33
correlation
a connection between the variables and does not imply causation
34
strength of correlation
is proportional to the spread of values from the line of best fit
35
positive correlations
exists when and increase in one variable is accompanied by an increase in the other variable
36
negative correlations
exists when an increase in one variable is accompanied by a decrease in the other variable