3.3 Reporting and Critical Evaluation of Biologival

Question 1

What should a scientific report include

Answer 1

An explanatory title

An abstract (including aims and findings)

Introduction (purpose and context of experiment, including several sources, supporting statements, citations, and references)

Question 2

Background information of a scientific report

Answer 2

Should be clear, relevant and unambiguous

Question 3

Title of scientific report

Answer 3

Should provide a succinct explanation of the study

Question 4

Abstract of a scientific report

Answer 4

Outlines the aims and findings of the study

Question 5

Aim of a scientific report

Answer 5

Must link the independent and dependent variable

Question 6

What should an introduction include

Answer 6

Information required to support:
- choices of method, results and discussion

Why the study has been conducted

Placing the introduction in the context of existing understanding

Question 7

Method in a scientific report

Answer 7

Should contain sufficient information to allow another investigator to repeat the work

Question 8

Experimental design in scientific report

Answer 8

Should address the intended aim and test the hypothesis

Question 9

What from the experimental design should be evaluated

Answer 9

The validity and reliability

Question 10

Experimental design that does not address the intended aim or test the hypothesis

Answer 10

Invalid

Question 11

Invalid experimental design

Answer 11

Experimental design that does not address the intended aim or test the hypothesis

Question 12

What should treatment effects be compared to

Answer 12

Controls

Question 13

What to do if you are aware of confounding variables

Answer 13

Take them into account

Or

Standardise across the treatments

Question 14

When is the validity of an experiment compromised

Answer 14

When factors other than the independent variable influence the value of the dependant variable

Question 15

What does it mean when factors other than the independent variable influence the value of the dependant variable

Answer 15

Validity of experiment may be compromised

Question 16

Selection bias

Answer 16

Selection of a sample in a non random way

The sample is not representative of the whole population

Selection bias may have prevented a representative sample being selected

Question 17

Selection of a sample in a non random way

The sample is not representative of the whole population

Selection bias may have prevented a representative sample being selected

Answer 17

Selection bias

Question 18

Effect of relatively small sample size

Answer 18

Sample size may not be sufficient to decide without bias whether the change to the independent variable has caused an effect in the dependant variable

Question 19

How should results be shown in scientific reports

Answer 19

Data presented in a clear, logical manner suitable for analysis

Consideration should be given to the validity of outliers and anomalous results

Question 20

What can statistical tests be used for

Answer 20

To determine whether the differences between means are likely or unlikely to have occurred by chance

Question 21

What can be used to determine whether the differences between means are likely or unlikely to have occurred by chance

Answer 21

Statistical tests

Question 22

Statistically significant result

Answer 22

A result that is unlikely to be due to chance alone

Question 23

A result that is unlikely to be due to chance alone

Answer 23

Statistically significant result

Question 24

What do errors bars indicate

Answer 24

The variability of data around a mean

Question 25

The variability of data around a mean

Answer 25

Error bars

Question 26

What does it mean if the treatment mean differs from the control mean sufficiently for their error bars to not overlap

Answer 26

The difference may be significant

Question 27

When is there a significant difference between treatment and control

Answer 27

if the treatment mean differs from the control mean sufficiently for their error bars to not overlap

Question 28

What should conclusions refer to

Answer 28

Aim

Results

Hypothesis

Question 29

What should be considered when evaluating experimental design

Answer 29

The validity and reliability

Question 30

What should be considered when evaluating results

Answer 30

Correlation or causation

Question 31

What should evaluations of conclusions include

Answer 31

Consideration of findings in the context of existing knowledge and the results of other investigations

Scientific writings should reveal an awareness of the contribution of scientific research to increasing scientific knowledge, and the community.