Investigative Biology

Question 1

State the processes involved in the scientific cycle.

Answer 1

• observation
• construction of a testable hypothesis
• experimental design
• gathering, recording and analysis of data
• evaluation of results and conclusions
• the formation of a revised hypothesis where necessary

Question 2

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 2

The null hypothesis proposes that there will be no statistically significant effect as a result of the experiment treatment.

Question 3

When is the null hypothesis rejected?

Answer 3

If there is evidence for an effect

Question 4

What is a negative result and are they valid?

Answer 4

A negative result is failure to find an effect and it is a valid finding, as long as an experiment is well designed.

Question 5

When are scientific ideas finally accepted?

Answer 5

Once they have been checked independently and when results are reproducible.

Question 6

Why is the publication of methods, data, analysis and conclusions in scientific reports important?

Answer 6

To allow others to repeat an experiment.

Question 7

State some common methods of sharing original scientific findings.

Answer 7

• seminars
• talks and posters at conferences
• publishing in academic journals

Question 8

What process do most scientific publications use before submission?

Answer 8

Peer review.

Question 9

What does peer review involve?

Answer 9

Specialists with expertise in the relevant fields reading through the scientific work to assess the quality of the manuscript and make recommendations regarding its suitability for publication.

Question 10

What are review articles?

Answer 10

Articles which summarise current knowledge and recent findings in a particular field.

Question 11

What does scientific coverage in the wider media require before being properly accepted?

Answer 11

Critical evaluation

Question 12

What has the increasing public understanding of science lead to?

Answer 12

The issue of misrepresentation of science.

Question 13

What aspects are important in a scientific report?

Answer 13

• an unbiased representation of results
• citing and providing references
• avoiding plagiarism

Question 14

What can be done to minimise the harm to animals in animal studies?

Answer 14

• replacement (using alternatives such as cell tissue samples instead of whole organisms)
• reduction ( changing experimental design or statistical methods to lower the number of individual animals needed)
• refinement (the consideration of how experiments are carried out to ensure minimum pain or harm, ad also includes improvements in animal welfare such as accommodation, food supply and veterinary provision)

Question 15

State some of the key factors in human studies.

Answer 15

• informed consent
• the right to withdraw
• confidentiality

Question 16

What must happen before an experiment can take place?

Answer 16

The scientific research must be justified and must be risk assessed.

Question 17

State factors that can influence scientific research.

Answer 17

• legislation
• regulation
• policy
• funding

Question 18

What is meant by validity?

Answer 18

Validity relates to variables that are controlled so that any measured effect is likely to be due to the independent variable.

Question 19

Explain what is meant by reliability.

Answer 19

Reliability is related to confidence in the data and obtaining consistent values in repeats and independent replicates.

Question 20

Explain what is meant by accuracy.

Answer 20

Accuracy relates to how close to the true value data, or means of data sets are.

Question 21

Explain what is meant by precision.

Answer 21

Precision relates to how close measured values are to each other.

Question 22

Which variable is the independent one in an experiment?

Answer 22

The variable being changed. (X-axis on a graph).

Question 23

Which variable is the dependent variable in an experiment?

Answer 23

The variable that is getting changing due to the experiment. Or the variable being measured by its changes. (Y-axis)

Question 24

State what is meant by a pilot study and why it is important in experimentation.

Answer 24

A pilot study is a small-scale investigation that helps plan, assess validity of materials and assess techniques used. They can ensure an appropriate use of range values and number of repeats needed in the real investigation.

Question 25

Explain what is meant by a continues variable and give an example of a continuous variable.

Answer 25

A continuous variable has a infinite range of values measure and an example is temperature.

Question 26

Explain what is meant by discrete variables and give an example of a discrete variable.

Answer 26

Discrete variable are whole number when measured and an example is number of animals.

Question 27

Explain what is meant by confounding variables.

Answer 27

A confounding variable is any other variable in an experiment other than the independent and dependent variables that could effect the results of the experiment unless controlled or accounted for.

Question 28

What can be done to increase the validity of an experiment?

Answer 28

A control

Question 29

Explain what is meant by a positive control and give an example.

Answer 29

A positive control checks that a positive result can be shown in the experiment and an example would be using a substance that is known to have a positive effect.

Question 30

Explain what is meant by negative control and give an example.

Answer 30

A negative control checks that it is the independent variable having an effect on the dependent variable and an example is using a placebo.

Question 31

What is meant by in vitro?

Answer 31

Experiments that take place outside an organism (ie in a lab).

Question 32

What is meant by in vivo?

Answer 32

An experiment that takes place within an organism (ie within body).

Question 33

What populations require larger sample sizes?

Answer 33

Populations with greater variation.

Question 34

What must a sample and the real population have in common?

Answer 34

They must have the same mean and the same standard deviation (same variation).

Question 35

Explain the three different types of sampling.

Answer 35

• random = equal chance
• systematic = regular intervals
• stratified = categories sampled proportionally

Question 36

What is another word for range ?

Answer 36

Variation

Question 37

Explain what is meant by qualitative data and give an example.

Answer 37

Qualitative data is subjective and descriptive and an example is case studies or interviews.

Question 38

Explain what is meant by quantitative data.

Answer 38

Quantitative data can be measured objectively usually numerically.

Question 39

Explain what is meant by ranked data and give an example.

Answer 39

Ranked data is data which is organised into a specific order and each are ranked and an example could be smallest to tallest.

Question 40

Explain the difference between correlation and causation.

Answer 40

Correlation exists is there is a relationship between two variables but does not indicate causation (as it could be a coincidence) and causation exists if one variable changes the other variable.

Question 41

How is the strength of correlation determined?

Answer 41

How spread the data is around the line of best fits. ( if they are close = strong , if they are far = weak).

Question 42

How is a positive correlation shown on a graph?

Answer 42

By a positive gradient of the line of best fits.

Question 43

Explain the order a scientific report should be laid out in.

Answer 43

• title
• summary/ abstract
• introduction
• methods
• results
• discussion

Question 44

What should a summary/ abstract include in a scientific report?

Answer 44

The aims and findings.

Question 45

What must an introduction include in a scientific report?

Answer 45

Background information and justification of the experiment.

Question 46

What is meant by discussion in a scientific report?

Answer 46

Conclusions and evaluation.

Question 47

What must an aim link?

Answer 47

The independent and dependent variables.