+Scientific Method Flashcards
What is the purpose of a control?
it acts as a comparison for our test condition in our experiment
what is data
Measurements/observations gathered
what is an hypothesis
Educated explanation/guess for an observation
what is an experiment
Testing the hypothesis
what is a replicate
Repeating an experiment
What is a theory
A hypothesis that has been supported by multiple experiments
what is double blinding testing/
Neither the tester or the participant knows who gets the drug
what is ethics?
Refers to if experiments or issues are morally right or wrong
what is an observation?
Unbiased, accurate report of an event
What is a variable?
A factor that can be changed in an experiment
what is the test?
The condition we compare to our control
what are principles of a good experiment?
o Appropriate study design
o Participant selection
o Control group
o Publishing results.
what is single blinding?
The test knows which group the participant is in (control or test) but the participant does not
What is random selection?
participants are selected at random for the experiment
What is non random selection?
participants are not selected at random for the experiment
is a larger or smaller sample size better?
larger
-reduces bias
-increases reliability
-improves accuracy
If a sample size is too small it will not reflect the wider population
why is a small sample size not as good as a larger size?
If a sample size is too small it will not reflect the wider population
A good experiment must have a test and a control. But why?
We need the control to compare the control to a test group to see if the treatment or intervention actually works.
where are results published?
- Scientists publish their findings primarily in scientific journals
why do people publish experimental results?
Scientists publish their findings so other scientists can be informed and so other scientists can replicate their study.
What are the limitations of the scientific method?
- Human error.
- The experiment may be designed poorly.
- Scientists’ ability to interpret results.
- Bias
