Chapter 2 - The Scientific Method

Question 1

What are the characteristics of a good hypothesis?

Answer 1

1. It is a definitive statement
2. It is short
3. Has a single idea that can be tested
4. Links 2 variables

Question 2

What is an independent variable?

Answer 2

The factor being investigated

Question 3

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 3

The factor that changes in response to the independent variable

Question 4

What are controlled variables?

Answer 4

The factors that are kept the same for both the experimental and control groups

Question 5

What is a human error?

Answer 5

A mistake.

Eg. Incorrectly reading the scale on an instrument, spilling liquid before measuring the volume

Question 6

What is a random error?

Answer 6

Unpredictable errors that can occur in all experiments.

Eg. Stopping the stop watch too late

Question 7

What are systematic errors?

Answer 7

Errors that occur because of the way in which an experiment is designed.

Question 8

What are ethical principles involve in an investigation?

Answer 8

1. Voluntary participation
2. Informed consent
3. Risk of harm
4. Confidentiality
5. Anomonimity

Question 9

What is a placebo?

Answer 9

An inactive substance that looks like the real medications.

Question 10

In what order do the variables go in a graph?

Answer 10

Independent, dependent

Question 11

What axes do the variables go on in a graph?

Answer 11

Independent - horizontal

Dependent- vertical