Research Methods (yr13)

Question 1

What is the difference between a null hypothesis and a hypothesis?

Answer 1

Hypothesis says that there is a difference or relationship between two things.

Null hypothesis says there is no difference or relationship between two things. Any difference seen is down to chance or another factor

Question 2

What are statistical tests used for?

Answer 2

To asses the probability of results occurring due to chance. This increases the scientific credibility of the research.

It allows us to decide which hypothesis to accept or reject

Question 3

What is the accepted level of probability?

Answer 3

All studies employ a significance level, the accepted level of probability is 0.05% or p </= 0.05

This strikes a balance between type 1 & 2 errors.

Question 4

Why would a more stringent level of significance be used (0.01%) ?

Answer 4

This may be used if there is a human cost such as a drug trial or if the study is a one off and cannot be repeated in the future.

Question 5

What is a type one error?

Answer 5

A type one error is when an experimental hypothesis is wrongly accepted and null hypothesis wrongly rejected due to the significance level being too lenient.
Known also as a false positive.

Question 6

What is a type two error

Answer 6

A type two error is when an experimental hypothesis is wrongly rejected and a null hypothesis is wrongly accepted.
Known as a false negative.

Question 7

What is the Oder of details for references?

Answer 7

1)surname
2)letter of 1st name
3)year in brackets
4)title
5)location
6)publisher

Question 8

What are the six different sections of a scientific report?

Answer 8

1)abstract
2)introduction
3)method
4)results
5)discussion
6)references

Question 9

What is included in the abstract section of a scientific report

Answer 9

Includes key details, short summary, aim, hypothesis, method, result and conclusion.

Question 10

What is included in the intro of a scientific report

Answer 10

Looks at past research and provided background knowledge. Broad to begin with but gets more specific to most relevant past research.

Question 11

What is included in the method section of a scientific report

Answer 11

A description of the method in these subsections:
1)design
2)sample
3)apparatus
4)procedure
5)ethics

Question 12

What is included in the results section of a scientific report

Answer 12

Description of what is found, including descriptive and inferential stats, any raw data at the end.