KA 1: scientific principles and process: scientific method

Question 1

list the scientific cycle

OHEAEH

Answer 1

• observation
• construction of 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

in science…

Answer 2

refinement of ideas is the norm

Question 3

what can scientific knowledge be thought of as?

Answer 3

the current best explanation, which may then be updated after evaluation of further experimental

Question 4

what does the null hypothesis propose?

Answer 4

that there will be no statistically significant effect as a result of the experiment

Question 5

what is a negative result, and is it a valid finding?

Answer 5

failure to find an effect

valid finding, as long as the experiment is well designed

Question 6

how can conflicting data or conclusions be resolved?

Answer 6

• careful evaluation
• lead to further experimentation

Question 7

when would a null hypothesis be rejected?

Answer 7

if there is evidence for an effect, unlikely due to chance

Question 8

when do scientific ideas become accepted?

Answer 8

once they have been checked independently

Question 9

effects must be…

Answer 9

reproducible; one-off results are treated with caution