Science Inquiry Skills

Question 1

What is a Hypothesis?

Answer 1

An educated guess, must be testable, should include independent and dependant variables.

Question 2

Name 3 kinds of Variables.

Answer 2

Independant, dependant, extraneous.

Question 3

What is an Independant Variable?

Answer 3

Is changed/manipulated in some way by the experimenter

Question 4

What is a Dependable Variable?

Answer 4

Shows whether or not the IV has made an effect. The variable that is measured. e.g. heart rate.

Question 5

What are 3 kinds of Extraneous Variables?

Answer 5

Participant, situational, experimenter

Question 6

What is an Extraneous Variable?

Answer 6

Causes changes to occur in the DV other than the IV. Random in nature rather than systematic, environmental, participant differences.

Question 7

Participant (EV)

Answer 7

Anything the participant brings to the experiment that can’t be controlled. E.g. natural heart rates

Question 8

Situational (EV)

Answer 8

Anything involving the situation that can’t be controlled. E.g. time of day, lighting in the room, temperature in the room

Question 9

Experimenter (EV)

Answer 9

Different experimenters could conduct the experiment differently, impacting results

Question 10

Name 3 Experimental features.

Answer 10

Experimental group, control group, random allocation.

Question 11

What is an Experimental group?

Answer 11

Are exposed to the independent variable (receives the “treatment”). The treatment (IV) is the hypothesised cause of any variation in the dependent variable.

Question 12

What is a Control group?

Answer 12

Are exposed to the independent variable (receives the “treatment”). The treatment (IV) is the hypothesised cause of any variation in the dependent variable.

Question 13

What is Random allocation?

Answer 13

If allocation is by random assignment, experiments allow conclusions about cause.

Question 14

Describe Objective quantative.

Answer 14

Quantitative = numerical. Can be observed, measured and recorded by the researcher. Objective= can be verified by the researcher and therefore implies it is free of bias. The data is therefore observed and measured by the researcher. Examples include heart rate monitors, galvanic skin response,behavioralcounts, brain wave activity (EEG), behavior counts. Behaviouralcounts: a researcher views a group of people or animals to record the numberof times a particular behavior occurs.

Question 15

Describe Subjective quantative.

Answer 15

Subjective = guess or estimate
Self-reports which come from the participants directlye.g.attitude tests
Include checklists, rating scale (Likert scales), questionnaires
Cannotbe sure thereis notbias involved asdon’tknow if participants have given accurate data
Issues regarding validity due to participants lying to give socially desirable answers
Examples include Likert scales from strongly agree to strongly disagree, questionnaires with fixed responsesand personality tests (Neo-Pi).

Question 16

How is Graphing done?

Answer 16

x-axis = independent variable
y-axis = dependent variable
If the scale jumps to a higher number, break the axis with a double tramline or zig-zag line

Question 17

What are some necessary Ethics?

Answer 17

Respect, work ethically, informed consent, voluntary, confidentiality/anonymity, right to withdraw, deception only when neccessary, debreifing, proffessional conduct, accurate reporting.