key science skills

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

• the purpose of an experiment

Question 2

independent variable

Answer 2

• the variable that is deliberately manipulated

Question 3

dependent variable

Answer 3

• the variable being measured

Question 4

controlled variables

Answer 4

• variables that are held constant and not changed throughout the experiment
• variables need to be controlled do that the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable can be isolated
• minimise the impact of confounding variables
• increases reliability

Question 5

hypothesis

Answer 5

• testable statement which predicts the outcome of an experiment.
• if.. is dependent on… then increases/decreases… when…increases/decreases

Question 6

scientific ideas

Answer 6

• ideas that are developed by following a scientific method

Question 7

non-scientific ideas

Answer 7

• ideas that are not developed by following a scientific method

Question 8

variable

Answer 8

• any factor that is capable of change throughout an experiment

Question 9

primary source

Answer 9

• source providing original data, written by the experimenter

Question 10

secondary source

Answer 10

• source that has interpreted primary source

Question 11

scientific method

Answer 11

• a procedure used to investigate scientific ideas

Question 12

considerations

Answer 12

• economic considerations
• legal considerations
• ethical considerations
• political considerations
• social considerations

Question 13

primary data

Answer 13

• original data collected first and by researches

Question 14

secondary data

Answer 14

• data that has been previously collected that is now accessible to
  different researchers

Question 15

qualitative data

Answer 15

• non-numerical (descriptive) data collected based on observations taken during an experiment
• subjective and can differ between experimenters which reduces its reproducibility
• experiment is difficult to replicate

Question 16

quantitative data

Answer 16

• numerical data collected during experiments
• objective and not influenced by bias
• can be replicated increasing its reproducibility
• allows for tends and patterns to be observed

Question 17

qualitative analysis

Answer 17

• technique that determines a non-numerical result

Question 18

quantitative analysis

Answer 18

• technique that identifies the amount of substance present

Question 19

anecdote

Answer 19

• the communication of an abstract idea about a person, place, or thing
  through the use of a story or narrative

Question 20

opinion

Answer 20

• a view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact
  or knowledge

Question 21

control group

Answer 21

• sample that is subjected to the same conditions as all other samples without the independent variable
• it is used a baseline for comparison

Question 22

experimental group

Answer 22

• a test group that is exposed to the
  independent variable

Question 23

Accuracy

Answer 23

• how close measured values are to their true value

Question 24

precision

Answer 24

• how close measured values are to each other

Question 25

validity

Answer 25

• whether the experiment and its components including the results address the aim and hypothesis of the research

Question 26

repeatability

Answer 26

- refers to how close the results of successive measurements are to each other in the exact same conditions

Question 27

Reproducibility

Answer 27

• refers to how close results are when the same variable is being measured but under different conditions

Question 28

reliability

Question 29

resolution

Answer 29

• the smallest change of measurement that a particular piece of equipment can detect

Question 30

random error

Answer 30

• usually a ‘one-off’ error in measurement that differs in amount between trials

Question 31

systematic error

Answer 31

• error in measurement by the same amount in the same direction every time, which also includes errors that are inherent in the experiment