Science Inquiry

Question 1

Steps of the scientific method:

Answer 1

1. Recognise a problem and define a question
2. Collect as much info as possible relating to
   the problem
3. Propose a hypothesis
4. Test the hypothesis using an experiment
5. Analyse and interpret the data collected
6. Draw conclusions about whether the
   hypothesis was supported or disproved

Question 2

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 2

It is a definite statement which can be tested. It suggests a particular relationship between the independent and dependent variables. It is an educated guess, based on observation. Contains an individual idea that can be supported or disproved through experimentation.

Question 3

How to write a hypothesis:

Answer 3

If we increase/decrease (choose one) the (independent variable) then the (dependent variable) will increase/decrease (Choose one).

Question 4

What is a theory?

Answer 4

Contains one or more hypotheses that
have been supported with repeated testing.
Theories evolve as more information is
gathered.

Question 5

What is a law?

Answer 5

Generalises a body of observations. Accepted as fact.

Question 6

What is the independent variable?

Answer 6

The variable that is deliberately manipulated or changed to see what effect this has. It is also called the experimental or manipulated variable.

Question 7

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 7

The variable or factor that changes as a response to the independent variable. This is what the experimenter observes or measures during the experiment.

Question 8

What are controlled variables?

Answer 8

Those variables that are regulated and kept
constant for the duration of the experiment,
because they could have an effect on the outcome.

Question 9

What are uncontrolled variables?

Answer 9

Those variables that are not controlled in the
experimental design. Sometimes they do not have any significant effect on the experiment, sometimes they will. It is always best to control all variables, except the dependent and independent variables, as much as possible. Sometimes you do not have access to equipment that will allow you to control all of the variables in this instance you will need to note this and discuss it in your report.

Question 10

What is the control group?

Answer 10

Subjects all have the same conditions as the
other group, except for the variable being tested. The group to which nothing is done. Allows you to make a comparison with the experimental group. Controls are experiments which are set up in order to rule out the possibility of factors other than the variable under investigation being responsible for the changes observed. Often in experiments you will need some “normal” data to compare your results to. Scientists run a control group, where the conditions are what might be considered normal so that they can compare their experimental group data to the control group

Question 11

What is the experimental group?

Answer 11

This group tests the hypothesis. The subjects are given one change in their conditions.

Question 12

What is sampling?

Answer 12

A large sample size increases the reliability of
the outcome- it is an attempt to even out
individual variation that exists between
subjects. Specimens should be chosen randomly. Replication is needed to obtain a statistically reliable average. Experiments must run for a suitable time period.

Question 13

What is the method?

Answer 13

Is what you actually did not what you planned to do (procedure) these may be two very
different things. Past tense, non-personal (no I, we, us), Clear and concise, Detailed.

Question 14

What is repetition?

Answer 14

Doing the same experiment many times

Question 15

What is replication?

Answer 15

Running numerous identical experiments at the same time or experimenting on a large number of subjects at the same time.

Question 16

Reliability in an experiment:

Answer 16

Consistently similar results demonstrate that the results are reliable, they do not make data more accurate

Question 17

Validity of results:

Answer 17

The degree to which the experiment tests
what it is supposed to. The more you control the variables and the less uncontrolled variables there are the more the valid the results are.

Question 18

Reliability of results:

Answer 18

The extent to which the experiment gives the same results each time. Relies on well controlled variables and accurate equipment. Conducting more trials makes your data more reliable a it reduces the impact of anomalies

Question 19

Collecting data:

Answer 19

Quantitative data
* Numbers, generally measurements

Qualitative data
* Observations that do not involve numbers

• Generally quantitative data is preferred but it is not always possible to collect data in this way

Question 20

Results table layout:

Answer 20

• Results must be recorded in a suitable table.
• Title: A table showing…
• Appropriate headings
• Units with the headings- not in the body of the table
• Generally multiple results are taken and the average is calculated

Question 21

What is the use of graphing?

Answer 21

Represents the relationship between at least
two sets of data. Allows predictions to be made from data. Make trends easy to see.

Question 22

How to graph:

Answer 22

• Plot the independent variable on the x axis
• Plot the dependent variable on the y axis
• Label each axis clearly (variable and units)
• Give the graph a title which must include both the independent and dependent variables and the relationship
• Draw at least ¾ of page, data must fill at least ¾ of the axis.
• Choose your scale carefully.
• Choose the type of graph to suit the data.

Question 23

What is interpolation and extrapolation?

Answer 23

• Interpolation - read a value from within your
  graph
• Extrapolation - when you use your graph to
  predict a value beyond the data
• Interpolation is more reliable than extrapolation

Question 24

What to include in the discussion:

Answer 24

Results analysis:
* Address the question that your research was trying to answer
* Was there a relationship between variables
* Describe trends in your data (graph)

Scientific knowledge:
* You need to explain your results in terms of the scientific research you have done in class and in your literature review

Reliability of your data:
* Reliable data has very similar values each time the test is repeated
* The closer the values the more reliable the data
* Discuss in detail how close the repeats are too each other/average

Validity of results:
* Results are valid if they test what they were designed to test
* Basically the more tightly controlled your variables are, the more valid your results will be
* How did you ensure variables were controlled?
* Explain any anomalies

Experimental errors:
What things occurred that may have lead to your results not being as reliable or valid as they could be?
How would you overcome this in future
investigations

Question 25

What to include in the evaluation:

Answer 25

Address experimental errors. Explain how you would change the procedure if you were to do the experiment again in order to improve the validity and reliability of the data and to remove the experimental error.

Question 26

Common experimental errors:

Answer 26

• More than one variable altered.
• Does not test the hypothesis
• Not all variables controlled
• Small sample size
• Inappropriate specimen
• Lack of replication
• Time span inadequate

Question 27

What to include in the conclusion:

Answer 27

Restate the hypothesis and say if it was
supported or disproved (we never prove a
hypothesis).

Question 28

What is ethics?

Answer 28

Moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity.
An animal is defined as “any live non-human vertebrate (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) and cephalopods(octopus, squid)”

Question 29

The three R’s: Replacement

Answer 29

The replacement of animals with other methods

Question 30

The three R’s: Reduction

Answer 30

The reduction in the number of animals used by good experimental design and use of statistics.

• use no more that the minimum number of animals necessary
• reducing the number of animals used should not be implemented at the expense of greater suffering of individual animals
• repeated trials only when essential
• overproduction of animals bred for scientific purposes should be avoided

Question 31

The three R’s: Refinement

Answer 31

The refinement of techniques used to reduce adverse impact:
* Animals should be transported, housed, fed, watered, handled and used under conditions that meet species-specific needs
* Wildlife should not be taken from natural habitats unless animals bred in captivity are not available
* Projects should be designed to avoid (or minimise) both pain and distress in animals.
* appropriate pain management
* ‘Death as an end-point’ must be avoided wherever possible
* Minimum duration of pain and suffering

Question 32

What is quantitative and qualitative data?

Answer 32

Quantitative data: Numbers, generally measurements (10ms)

Qualitative data: Observations that do not involve numbers (eg fast slow)

Generally quantitative data is preferred but it is not always possible to collect data in this way