Investigation and the scientific method

Question 1

What are 6 types of investigations?

Answer 1

Observations, controlled experiments, surveys, trial and error, case studies, and longitudinal studies.

Question 2

What is an observation investigation?

Answer 2

Drawing conclusions from observed patterns.

Question 3

What is a controlled experiment investigation?

Answer 3

A series of experiments in which one variable is changed per experiment, ensuring that any changes to the results will have been caused by that one variable.

Question 4

What is a survey experiment?

Answer 4

When information is collected from a number of different subjects and analysed.

Question 5

What is a trial and error experiment?

Answer 5

An experiment in which multiple attempts to solve a problem are undertaken, until a solution is found.

Question 6

What is a case study experiment?

Answer 6

One person is studied, and their effects are documented. Often used to confirm or extend knowledge of a disease.

Question 7

What is a longitudinal study experiment?

Answer 7

Similar to a case study, but conducted over a much longer period of time. Eliminates variables caused by cultural differences between generations.

Question 8

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Answer 8

1) Ask a question
2) State the hypothesis
3) Conduct an experiment
4) Process the results
5) Make a conclusion

Question 9

What should a hypothesis include?

Answer 9

1) stating of how the independent variable is related to the dependent variable
2) a directional change between the independent and dependent variables
3) examination of one independent variable at a time
4) ability to be testable

Question 10

Define reliability and explain how it can be enhanced.

Answer 10

The ability to produce consistent results whenever a procedure is repeated.

Reliability can be enhanced through:

1. increased sample size
2. repetition of the experiment

Question 11

Define validity and explain how it can be enhanced.

Answer 11

How well an experiment tests the hypothesis at hand.

Can be enhanced by:

1. random selection of test subjects (avoiding selection bias)
2. careful identification of control variables

Question 12

Define a placebo.

Answer 12

Something similar in appearance to what is being tested, but not containing the active components, used both for comparison to the experimental group and as a way to test that results are not psychological.

Question 13

What is a double-blind trial?

Answer 13

A trial in which neither researcher nor subjects know which group has received the placebo and which has received the experimental treatment.

Question 14

What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?

Answer 14

Quantitative data is data measured in numbers (e.g. volume of a substance, heart rate)
Qualitative data is descriptional data

Question 15

What is an error? What are the two main types of errors?

Answer 15

A mistake or flaw in the planning or process of an experiment which disrupts validity and/or reliability.

1) Experimental errors (faulty instruments, inaccurate observations)
2) Sampling errors (not large enough, not truly representative)

Question 16

What does it mean if two variables are inversely proportional?

Answer 16

As one variable increases, the other decreases.

Question 17

What is the difference between replication and repetition?

Answer 17

Repetition is the process of doing the same experiment many times one after another
Replication is the process of doing a large amount of identical experiments simultaneously