Scientific method Flashcards
what does qualitative mean
means that it is an informative description
what does quantitative mean
refers to numerical results
what are the different types of graphs
- histograms
- column/ bar graph
- line graph
- scatter plot
histograms
- can be used to show frequencies
- continuous data is grouped into categories
- no gaps
column/bar graph
- used for discrete data
- column graphs run vertically
- bar graphs run horizontally
line graphs
- data is continuous
scatter plot
- is used to determine the correlation between data
what does TPLUGS stand for
T - Title P - Plotting data correctly L - Labels on axes U - Units of measure G - graph types are appropriate for data displayed S - scale is consistent
what is reliability
- refer to an experiment being able to be done many times with similar results
what is validity
- refers to whether an experiment tests what it says it’s testing
- a valid test must have all variables controlled except for the variable being tested
ethical problems and principles
ethics are a set of moral principles or values
V - voluntary participation I - Informed consent R - Risk of harm C - Confidentiality A - Anomity
what is a placebo
- a placebo is an inactive substance that looks like the real medication
what is the placebo effect
- is when the patient believes they are receiving real therapy which causes improvement
what is a blind experiment
- occurs when the subjects don’t know if they are receiving the placebo or treatment
what is a double-blind experiment
- occurs when the subjects and the researcher don’t know who belongs to the controlled and experimental group. in other words who is receiving the treatment or placebo
what is the difference between the experimental and control group
- an experimental group receives the treatment whose effect researchers wish to study. the control group does not
what is a fair test
- is an experiment that involves both experimental and controlled groups
what is the independent variable
- the factor that is being changed
what is the dependent variable
- the factor that is being measured
what is the controlled variable
- the factors who keep the same
what are the different types of errors
- random errors
- systematic errors
what is a random error
- are unpredictable errors that can occur in experiments. they occur because no measurement can be made with absolute precision
what is a systematic error
- an error that occurs in an experiment because of the way the experiment was designed
what headings must be included in a scientific report
- aim
- introduction
- method
- results
- discussion
- references
- acknowledgments
aim
what am i trying to investigate
introduction
to sate the research problem
method
provide an extensive protocol for your experiment
results
to present your data in a manner that is easy to read and interpret
discussion
to discuss the relationship between your results and how they relate to your hypothesis
references
to acknowledge sources
acknowledgements
to thank those who were directly involved in your work
types of investigations
- observations
- controlled experiments
- surveys
- trial and error
- case studies
- longitudinal studies
observations
the use of senses to gather information
controlled experiment
is a group that is used during treatment to make comparisons
surveys
is a research method used for collecting data to gain information
trial and error
the process of experimenting with various methods until you find the most successful
case studies
an intensive study about a person, group or unit
longitudinal studies
a type of study that involves looking at variables over an extended period of time
outliers
is an observation that lies an abnormal distance from other values
percentage change formula
old value - new value/ old value x 100
accuracy
accuracy refers to how close a measuring result is to the actual result
uncontrolled variable
factors in an experiment that are not kept the same between the experimental and controlled group
