Key Science skills Flashcards
investigation aim
the purpose of a study
- to investigate….
investigation question
the question that is to be solved by a study
hypothesis
a statement predicting the probable outcomes of an investigation
- it is hypothesised that…
Indépendant variable (IV)
the variable that is being manipulated (controlled, selected or changed) by the researcher
Dependent Variable (DV)
the variable that is being measured by the researcher
Controlled experiment
an experimental investigation of the relationship between one or more independent variables and a dependent variable, in which all other variables are controlled.
Extraneous variable
a variable other than the IV that may have an unwanted effect on the DV and results of an investigation
controlled variable
a variable that is help constant to ensure that the only influence on the DV is the IV
Confounding variable
an unwanted variance that has affected the results of an investigation
population
the wider group of people that a study is investigating
sample
the smaller group of people elected from the population who will be participants in the investigation
sampling technique
different procedures fro selecting participants from the population
random sampling
selecting participants from the population in a way that means each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected to participate in the study
stratified sampling
first dividing the population into the subgroups and then (randomly) selecting participants from each subgroup in the proportion that they appear on the population
investigation methodology
the particular type of research study
allocation
dividing a sample into groups in an investigation
case study
an investigation of a particular activity or behaviour/event that contains a real or hypothetical situation & includes real-word complexities
case study, strength and limitations
Strength = useful to study experiences where it would be unethical to experiment.
limitation = low validity, cannot be generalised.
classification and identification
Classification is the arrangement of phenomena, objects, or events into manageable sets.
Identification is a process of recognition of phenomena as belonging to particular sets or possibly being of a new or unique set.
Classification and identification, strengths and limitations
strengths = help make predictions and inferences.
limitations = labels and language can be inaccurate and create a bias.
correlation
planned observation & recording of events and behaviours the have not been manipulated or controlled
correlation strengths and limitations.
strength = directions 7 strength of a relationship can be determined using a correlation study.
limitation = the relationship is bi-directional, cannot determine which variable has more influence
Fieldwork
collection info by observing & interacting with a selected environment, often real-life setting.
field work strengths & limitations
strengths = provides rich, detailed data.
limitations = minimal control over EV’s
literature review
a type of investigation that involves collating & analysing secondary data findings & viewpoints.
literature review strengths & limitations
strengths = identify methodologies that have been unsuccessful or not successful at generating significant findings.
limitations = only secondary data is required
modelling and simulation.
modelling - Investigation methodology that involved construction &/or manipulating a physical or conceptual model of a system.
Simulation - uses the model to replicate & study the behaviour of a system.
modelling ad simulation strengths and limitations
Strengths = can test a product before its created; test things that may be unethical or logistically impossible in a controlled experiment.
limitations = complex models and simulations can be expensive.
Product, process or system developments.
type of investigation in which a product, process or a system is designed to meet a human need.
