Scientific Enquiry Flashcards
Scientific Method
- Indentify problem and question to be answered
- Research for background information
- Propose hypothesis
- Conduct/test hypothesis
- Collect and display valid data
- Summarise the results
- Draw conclusions (return to start if data is not conclusive)
Hypothesis
simple statemend that describes the relationship between two variables (independent/dependent)
Independent Variable
This is the one thing you will change or compare in the experiment
Dependent Variable
This is the thing you are measuring and recording as your results
Conrtol Variable
This is the factors that you will control and keep the same in the experiment
Types of investigation
observation controlled experiments survey trial and error case study longititudinal study
Observation
Any investigation that involves some form of observation (seeing, hearing, touching etc)
Controlled Experiments
Tests that involve changing one variable while all the other variables stay the same
Survey
- A process of systematically collecting, analysing and interpreting information about an aspect of study
- Designed to collect data from large groups
- Questionnaire/interview
- Large amount of info allows for looking for trends
Trial and Error
- Involves one attempt to solve a problem followed by another
- Each trial is recorded and the results allow the investigator to gradually home in on the solution to a problem
Case Study
- An in-dept investigation of one particular person or situation
- Over the corse of a lifetime (usually)
Longitudinal Studies
- Conducted over a long period of time (years or decades)
- Whole populations and more prolonged than case study
Literature review
- helps researcher define problem
- find out what is already known (prevents duplication)
- assess research methods
- allow researchers to relate their findings to what is already known
Safety
- consider the need of safety devices (eg. fire extinguishers)
- personal protection (eg. safety glasses)
- assess participants (eg. allergies? MENTAL AS WELL AS PHYSICAL)
Ethics
- Informed consent
- Voluntary participation
- Risk of Harm
- Confidentiality
- Debriefing
Informed consent
- subjects should be full informed about the objectives of the research, the procedure, possible risks, potential benefits of research
- CONSENT SHOULD BE GIVEN ONLY AFTER ALL INFO HAS BEEN GIVEN
Voluntary participation
- subjects should not be pressured into taking part in the investigation
Risk of Harm
- Should be no risk of physical or psychological harm than in their everyday life
Confidentiality
- participants identities will not be revealed
Debriefing
- takes place at the end of investigation
- let participants know the results
- if deception has occurred (eg. placebo) participants should be notified
Uncontrolled Variable
- variables that are not kept the same in control/experimental groups
- may have been overlooked
Repetition
doing the same experiment many times
Replication
have a number of identical experiments running together or performing the experiment on a large number of subjects at the same time.
Validity
- testing what it is supposed to test
Reliability
- extend to which the experiment gives the same result each time it is performed
Errors and Limitations
- measurements made with any measuring instrument are approximate as there is natural variation (known as measurement error)
- replication reduces errors but doesnt overcome error caused by limitation
- look at data objectively to draw conclusions (DO NOT LET OUTSIDE EXPERIENCES EFFECT RESULTS)
Secondary Data
- data collected by someone other than the people who are using the data
Average
- Sum of all measurements divided by number of measurements
Median
- middle number in a set of numbers
Range
- highest and lowest measurements in a group
Ratio
- numerical statement of how one variable relates to another
Rate
- shows how long it takes to do something
Frequency
- number of times an event occurs
Probability
- chance/likelihood that a particular event will occur
