Chapters 3&4

Question 1

Statistics

Answer 1

The field that focuses upon the collection, handling, validation, and interpretation of data.

Question 2

Distribution (statistical)

Answer 2

The way that in which the data points spread out over all possible value

Question 3

Ethics

Answer 3

A part of philosophy that deals with questions that surround our understanding of right and
wrong and helps us to decide in difficult cases what is the better pathway to follow.

Question 4

Mean

Answer 4

The sum of the values of each of the individual data points divided by the total number of data points in the set.

Question 5

Median

Answer 5

The half-way point in the data – half of the data points present have greater and half have
lesser values than the median.

Question 6

Q-test (or Dixon’s Q-test)

Answer 6

A rough test to justify ejecting an outlying data point from a set.

Question 7

Range

Answer 7

The difference between the lowest and highest value in a set of data.

Question 8

Statistics

Answer 8

The field that focuses upon the collection, handling, validation, and interpretation of data.

Question 9

Probability

Answer 9

The field that deals with representing the likelihood that a particular event or set of
events will occur given a set of reference data.

Question 10

Pseudoscience (or “junk”, “fringe”, or “alternative” science)

Answer 10

The practice or set of beliefs that are not founded in the basics of the scientific method.

Question 11

Occam’s Razor,

Answer 11

First presented by the English philosopher William of Ockham in the 1400’s, is a theory as to how to decide between two competing hypotheses that arrive at the same result.

Question 12

Examples of what might be signs of Pseudoscience.

Answer 12

Exaggerated or untestable claims;
Based upon hearsay; Reluctance towards experimentation and reproducibility;
Reliance upon confirmatory experiments rather than broad, open testing;
Use of new terminology; rely upon a false authority;
Random disregard of some facts or data;

Question 13

The American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS),

Answer 13

The largest professional organization for forensic science, has established a set of ethical guidelines to help promote the highest standards of practice in the field.

Question 14

The SI System. In this system, there are seven basic units of measurement:

Answer 14

m (Système International d’Unités) – An internationally agreed upon set of measures, based in the metric system, and including the following as the standard units: length (meter), mass (kilogram), temperature (Kelvin), time (second), quantity (mole), electrical current (ampere), and light Intensity (candela).

Question 15

Bright field microscopy

Answer 15

A form of microscopy in which the light passes directly through the sample to the
viewer and where the background appears the brightest in the view and the
sample appears relatively darker in comparison.

Question 16

Dark field microscopy -

Answer 16

A form of microscopy in which a physical light block is used to stop all the directly transmitted light that would travel in a straight line from the light source, through the sample and into the lenses. The only light that enters the observing lens is light that has been
scattered into the lens by the sample.

Question 17

Comparison microscope

Answer 17

A form of microscopy that consists of two separate

and complete microscopes that are joined together at the eyepieces allowing a simultaneous view two different samples.

Question 18

Depth of field (depth of focus)

Answer 18

A term that refers to the thickness of a sample that can be simultaneously viewed in focus and depends upon magnification where the depth of focus improves when the magnification of the lenses increases.

Question 19

Electron microscopy

Answer 19

A form of microscopy that uses an electron beam to “illuminate” a sample, allowing magnifications of up to several million times.

Question 20

Fluorescence microscopy

Answer 20

A form of optical microscopy that irradiates a sample with light that excites molecules in the sample to emit fluorescent light that is then detected.

Question 21

Objective lens

Answer 21

The lens in a microscope closest to the object being viewed.

Question 22

Ocular lens (eyepiece)

Answer 22

The lens in a microscope closest to the viewer.

Question 23

Scanning electron microscopy

Answer 23

A microscope that forms an image by moving a focused beam of electrons across a sample and detecting the electrons scattered by the sample.

Question 24

Stereo microscope

Answer 24

A type of light microscope that has a separate set of optics for each eye to give a three-dimensional appearance to a microscopic sample. The microscope usually uses
reflected or scattered light rather than light transmitted through the sample.