Scientific Method

Question 1

What is the purpose of replicates in scientific experimentation?

Answer 1

Ensure reliability

Question 2

What is meant by the term hypothesis

Answer 2

Educated guess based on observations

Question 3

Give two examples of limitations of the scientific method

Answer 3

Accidental discovery
The extent of our basic knowledge
Changes in natural world

Question 4

What is the purpose of a hypothesis in the scientific method

Answer 4

Forms basis of a prediction

Question 5

What should be accounted for in a hypothesis?

Answer 5

All the facts that have been observed

Question 6

Explain what is meant by double-blind testing

Answer 6

Neither the experimenter nor the test group knows who gets what

Question 7

What’s the purpose of double blind testing / explain the importance of it

Answer 7

The tester cannot influence the results of the experiment - avoid bias

Question 8

Why is a control essential in scientific experiments?

Answer 8

As a comparison with experiment

Question 9

Where do scientists usually publish the results and conclusions of their investigations?

Answer 9

Scientific journals

Question 10

How does a hypothesis differ from a theory?

Answer 10

Hypothesis can develop into a theory when has been supported by many different experiments

Question 11

How does a hypothesis differ from a theory?

Answer 11

Hypothesis can develop into a theory when has been supported by many different experiments

Question 12

What is data

Answer 12

Observations or results gathered from experiments

Question 13

What are replicates

Answer 13

Repeat of an experiment

Question 14

In an experiment to investigate effect of concentration of iodine on rate of growth of 100 tadpoles,all same age from same mother [2015]
Why do you think that it was important that all the tadpoles came from the same mother?

Answer 14

So they’re genetically similar - act same way

Minimises variation

Question 15

In an experiment to investigate effect of concentration of iodine on rate of growth of 100 tadpoles,all same age from same mother [2015]
Suggest why he used 25 tadpoles in each group

Answer 15

• larger sample would allow for illnesss

- make results more statistic significant

Question 16

In an experiment to investigate effect of concentration of iodine on rate of growth of 100 tadpoles,all same age from same mother [2015]
Suggest how this investigation would have been carried out

Answer 16

• diff concentrations of iodine solution used
• one is control, with no iodine
• in each solution, put 25 tadpoles
• leave for time and record changes

Question 17

In an experiment to investigate effect of concentration of iodine on rate of growth of 100 tadpoles,all same age from same mother [2015]
Suggest two factors that the scientist would have kept constant during investigation

Answer 17

Temp

Volume of water

Question 18

What is an experiment?

Answer 18

Test of hypothesis

Question 19

What is a theory?

Answer 19

Hypothesis that has been supported by many different experiments

Question 20

Scientists investigated the effect of a certain mineral on the growth of wheat [2011]
Suggest a reason why the seeds used were all taken from one parent plant

Answer 20

Genetically similar - minimises variation

Question 21

Scientists investigated the effect of a certain mineral on the growth of wheat [2011]
The compost was sterilised, suggest a way in which might have been sterilised

Answer 21

Heat

Question 22

State one reason why it is important to sterilise

Answer 22

To kill organisms and prevent contamination

Question 23

Scientists investigated the effect of a certain mineral on the growth of wheat [2011]
Why did the scientists divide the young wheat plants into two equal groups?

Answer 23

Control - comparison

Question 24

Scientists investigated the effect of a certain mineral on the growth of wheat [2011]
Kept two groups of plants under identical conditions, why??

Answer 24

Have only one variable + ensure fair test

Question 25

Scientists investigated the effect of a certain mineral on the growth of wheat [2011] Name two conditions you think scientists would have kept constant during experiment?

Answer 25

H20 | Temp

Question 26

Why do scientists repeat the investigation several times before publishing their results in a scientific journal?

Answer 26

Ensure reliability

Question 27

If a scientist wished to determine the effect of a certain herbicide on weed growth she would include a control in the investigation. Suggest a suitable control in this case

Answer 27

No herbicide

Question 28

What is science?

Answer 28

Organised and objective study of the physical, material and living world.

Question 29

What is biology?

Answer 29

The study of living things

Question 30

What is an organism?

Answer 30

A living thing

Question 31

What is the scientific method?

Answer 31

It is a process of investigation in which problems are identified and their suggested explanations are tested by carrying out experiments

Question 32

What are the seven steps of the scientific method?

Answer 32

1. Observation 2. Hypothesis 3. Experimentation 4. Collection and interpretation of data 5. Conclusion 6. Relating the conclusion to existing knowledge 7. Reporting and publishing the results

Question 33

How are observations obtained?

Answer 33

Directly by our senses or indirectly by the use of equipment

Question 34

What is an observation?

Answer 34

Noticing things in our environment

Question 35

What is the purpose of observations?

Answer 35

Provides basis for all the facts relating to a problem

Question 36

What can be the two results of an experiment?

Answer 36

-support -contradict the hypothesis

Question 37

How is a conclusion reached?

Answer 37

When the data from an experiment is interpreted

Question 38

What should the conclusion of an experiment tie in with?

Answer 38

The existing knowledge of the topic being examined

Question 39

On the basis of the conclusion reached, how is the hypothesis supported?

Answer 39

If results agree fully

Question 40

On the basis of the conclusion reached, how is the hypothesis changed?

Answer 40

If the results agree only partly

Question 41

On the basis of the conclusion reached, how is the hypothesis rejected?

Answer 41

If the results contradict it

Question 42

Why are experiments published?

Answer 42

In order to allow them to be repeated - conclusions are more likely to be valid

Question 43

Why are results of experiments reported?

Answer 43

So they can be examined and analysed by others

Question 44

What is a principle/law?

Answer 44

Theory that has been shown to be valid when fully tested over a long period of time

Question 45

What is the importance of the principles of experimentation?

Answer 45

Ensure experiments are conducted fairly

Question 46

What are the four principles of experimentation?

Answer 46

1. Careful planning and design 2. Ensure the experiment is safe 3. Design a control experiment 4. Fair experiment

Question 47

What is a variable?

Answer 47

It is a factor that may change in an experiment

Question 48

How do you ensure that the experiment is safe?

Answer 48

- tie back long hair - wear lab coat - avoid contact between electrical equipment and water - wear safety goggles when necessary - be aware of safety information when using chemicals

Question 49

What is a placebo?

Answer 49

It is a tablet or pill that does not contain the factor to be tested

Question 50

What is the importance of a large sample?

Answer 50

It reduces the risk that the results are due to individual differences rather than being caused by the factor being investigated

Question 51

When selecting a sample to be tested, what’s necessary?

Answer 51

Random - fair test

Question 52

What are ethics?

Answer 52

It relates to whether conduct is right or wrong

Question 53

What are the main areas of disagreements tend to be based on?

Answer 53

- use of captive animals in experiments - origin of life - cloning animals - use of stem cells from embryos to form new tissues or organs