KA 2: experimentation: reliability Flashcards
what is variation in experimental results due to?
the reliability of measurement methods and/or inherent variation in the specimens
how can the reliability of measuring instruments or procedures be determined?
repeated measurements or reading of an individual datum point
what does variation indicate?
the precision of the measurement instrument or procedure but not necessarily its accuracy
what can the natural variation in the biological material being used be determined by?
measuring a sample of individuals from the population
what does the mean of repeated measurements give?
an indication of the true value being measured
what is the range of values a measure of?
the extent of variation in the results
what does it mean if there is a narrow range?
the variation is low
why should independent replication be carried out?
to produce independent data sets, which should be compared to determine the reliability of the results
