chapter 2

Question 1

primary and secondary data

Answer 1

primary data:
data collected through firsthand research for an intended purpose

Secondary data:
data obtained second hand through research conducted by another person for another purpose

Question 2

qualitative data and quantitive data

Answer 2

Qualitative data:
data that describes characteristics and qualities

Quantitative data:
data that includes measurable values and quantities and can be compared on a numerical scale

Question 3

Percentage change

Answer 3

a calculation of the degree of change in a value over time

Question 4

measures of central tendancy, mean, median and mode

Answer 4

Measures of central tendency:
-a category of statistics that describes the central value of a set of data

Mean:
a statistic that is the average value of a set of data

median:
the middle value in an ordered set of data

mode:
the value that occurs most frequently within a set of data

Question 5

measure of variability

Answer 5

Measures of variability:
a category of statistics that describe the distribution of data

Standard deviation:
a statistic that shows the spread of the data around the mean

Question 6

tables

Answer 6

Tables are a way of organising data and/or summary statistics to clearly compare the results of different groups in a study.
-If data cannot be presented in one or two sentences, then a table should be used instead of explaining the data in the text of a report.

Question 7

analysing the quality of data:
true value

Answer 7

the value, or range of values, that would be found if the quantity could be measured perfectly

Question 8

analysing the quality of data:
accuracy

Answer 8

how close a measurement is to the true value of the quantity being measured

Question 9

analysing the quality of data:
precision

Answer 9

how close a set of measurement values are to each other

Question 10

analysing the quality of data:
repeatability

Answer 10

the closeness of the agreement between successive measurements of the same quantity, carried out under the same conditions

Question 11

analysing the quality of data:
reproducibility

Answer 11

the closeness of the agreement between measurements of the same quantity, carried out under different conditions

Question 12

analysing the quality of data:
replicability

Answer 12

giving the same answer to a scientific question when a different method is used and different data is obtained

Question 13

analysing the quality of data:
validity

Answer 13

whether a measurement measures what
it is supposed to measure

Question 14

analysing the quality of data:
internal validity

Answer 14

whether a study investigates what it sets out or claims to investigate

Question 15

analysing the quality of data:
external validity

Answer 15

whether the results of research can be applied to similar individuals in a different setting

Question 16

analysing the quality of data:
personal error

Answer 16

a mistake, miscalculation or observer error made when conducting research

Question 17

analysing the quality of data:
systematic error

Answer 17

an error that causes readings to differ from the true value by a consistent amount each time a measurement is made

Question 18

analysing the quality of data:
random error

Answer 18

an error that creates unpredictable variations in the measurement process and results in a spread of readings

Question 19

analysing the quality of data:
uncertainty

Answer 19

-a lack of exact knowledge of the value being measured

CONTRADICTORY DATA- data that
appears incorrect

INCOMPLETE DATA - data that has
elements missing

OUTLIER- a value that lies a long way from other results

Question 20

opinion, anecdote, evidence

Answer 20

Opinion:
a judgement that is not necessarily based on proof

Anecdote:
a short personal account of an event

Evidence:
a verified fact

Question 21

conclusion

Answer 21

a statement about the findings of a study, which addresses the aim and hypothesis

Question 22

limitations of conclusions

Answer 22

the faults or flaws in the design of an investigation that may limit the conclusions of that investigation

Question 23

implications

Answer 23

Implications the impact a study might have on the population, relevant theory and future research

Question 24

scienctific report:

Answer 24

a report outlining why and how some research was conducted, with an analysis of the findings

Question 25

scientific report:
abstract

Answer 25

a section of a scientific report that is a concise summary of the whole
investigation

Question 26

scientific report:
introduction section

Answer 26

a section of a scientific report or poster that
provides an overview of what the investigation is trying to achieve and why it is important

Question 27

scientific report:
methodology section

Answer 27

a section of a scientific report or poster that
describes the participants, materials and procedures used in the study

Question 28

scientific report:
results section

Answer 28

a section of a scientific report or poster that outlines the evidence and findings of the study

Question 29

scientific report:
discussion section

Answer 29

a section of a scientific report or poster that analyses the findings and concludes the
research

Question 30

scientific report:
References and acknowledgements section

Answer 30

a list of all the sources used in a scientific report or poster