Scientific Investigation

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

purpose of an experiment

Question 2

Controlled variable(s)

Answer 2

variable(s) held constant throughout the experiment

Question 3

Dependent variable

Answer 3

variable that is measured by the experimenter

Question 4

Hypothesis

Answer 4

testable statement which predicts the outcome of an experiment

Question 5

Independent variable

Answer 5

variable that is deliberately manipulated by the experimenter

Question 6

Non-scientific ideas

Answer 6

ideas that are not developed by following a scientific method

Question 7

Primary source

Answer 7

source providing original data, written by the experimenter

Question 8

Scientific ideas

Answer 8

ideas that are developed by following a scientific method

Question 9

Scientific method

Answer 9

procedure used to investigate scientific ideas

Question 10

Secondary source

Answer 10

source that has interpreted primary sources

Question 11

Variable

Answer 11

any factor (e.g., substance, condition, property) that is capable of changing throughout an experiment

Question 12

Economic considerations

Answer 12

taking into account the associated costs of time and money

Question 13

Ethical considerations

Answer 13

taking into account the effect on other living organisms (e.g. humans and animals)

Question 14

Legal considerations

Answer 14

taking into account the legality of research, as well as how the research may influence the law

Question 15

Political considerations

Answer 15

taking into account current governmental policies, and the political environment of society more broadly

Question 16

Primary data

Answer 16

original data collected firsthand by researchers

Question 17

Qualitative analysis

Answer 17

technique that determines a non-numerical result

Question 18

Qualitative data

Answer 18

non-numerical (descriptive) data collected based on observations taken during an experiment

Question 19

Quantitative analysis

Answer 19

technique that identifies the amount of substance present

Question 20

Quantitative data

Answer 20

numerical data collected during experiments

Question 21

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Answer 21

document that outlines the health and safety information associated with different materials and chemicals

Question 22

Secondary data

Answer 22

data that has been previously collected that is now accessible to different researchers

Question 23

Social considerations

Answer 23

taking into account the effect on society

Question 24

Anecdote

Answer 24

the communication of an abstract idea about a person, place, or thing through the use of a story or narrative

Question 25

Control group (controlled variables)

Answer 25

sample that is subjected to the same conditions as all other samples without the independent variable

Question 26

Opinion

Answer 26

a view or judgement formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge

Question 27

Accuracy

Answer 27

how close measured values are to their true value

Question 28

Bias

Answer 28

difference between the average of a large set of measurements and the true value

Question 29

Error

Answer 29

difference between the measured value and the true value

Question 30

Method

Answer 30

specific steps and techniques required to collect, visualise, and analyse experimental data in a scientific investigation

Question 31

Methodology

Answer 31

different ways in which the planning and conducting of scientific investigations can be carried out

Question 32

Mistake

Answer 32

sometimes called personal errors, mistakes should not be included in reporting and analysis

Question 33

Outlier

Answer 33

data point or observation that differs significantly from other data points or observations

Question 34

Precision

Answer 34

how close measured values are to each other

Question 35

Random error

Answer 35

usually a ‘one-off’ error in measurement that differs in amount between trials

Question 36

Repeatability

Answer 36

closeness of the agreement between the results of successive measurements of the same quantity, carried out under the same conditions

Question 37

Reproducibility

Answer 37

closeness of the agreement between the results of measurements of the same quantity, carried out under changed conditions

Question 38

Resolution (measurement)

Answer 38

the smallest change in quantity that is measurable (by a particular instrument)

Question 39

Significant figures

Answer 39

number of digits required to express a number to a certain level of accuracy

Question 40

Systematic error

Answer 40

error in measurement by the same amount in the same direction every time, which also includes errors that are inherent in the experiment

Question 41

Uncertainty

Answer 41

level of doubt regarding the data obtained (for VCE purposes, we are only looking at this from a qualitative perspective)

Question 42

Validity

Answer 42

whether the experiment and its components including the results address the aim and hypothesis of the research

Question 43

Limitations (models)

Answer 43

often oversimplified, use approximations, and missing key details