Scientific Method & Ethics, and Literature & Communication

Question 1

What is the scientific cycle?

Answer 1

A series of steps scientists use to investigate hypotheses and ideas in a testable and reproducible way.

Question 2

What are the stages of the scientific cycle?

Answer 2

Constuction of testable hypothesis. 
Carry our experiments. 
Gather data. 
Analyse data and results. 
Determine a conclusion. 
Evaluate the results and conclusions. 
Form new hypotheses if necessary.

Question 3

What’s a null hypothesis?

Answer 3

A hypothesis that states the indepenedent variable will have no effect on the dependent variable.

Question 4

How should repitition be carried out and why is it done?

Answer 4

Repetition should be done at a different time with a completelty new set of ingredients and organisms. Replication is important to verify results and conclusions.

Question 5

What are some personal ethics of the scientist?

Answer 5

• Results should be presented in a clear and unbiased way by including all data.
• Citations (an acknowledgement found in the text that the study being discussed is another scientists) and referneces must be included where previous studies by others have been spoken about. This is essential for avoiding plagiarism.

Question 6

What are the ethics of animal studies?

Answer 6

• Replacement: using alternatives to animals where possible or using different animals.
• Reduction: Using the least number of animals as possible.
• Refinement: Techniques being used should be adjusted to minimise the negative impact on the animals.

Question 7

What are the ethics of human studies?

Answer 7

• Informed written consent should always be given by participants to show they have read the details of the study and have agreed to take part. A parent/carer must give informed written consent if the participant is under 16.
• Participants have the right to withdraw data or their participation at any point during the study.
• All data gathered should be kept confidential.
• The participants should not come to any mental or physical harm during the study.

Question 8

What are the ethics of funding and approving studies?

Answer 8

• Scientists must justify their research by proving it will have benefits to society and will have a low risk of causing harm.
• Legislation, regulation, policy and funding priorities by governments aim to limit the misuse of studies and data.

Question 9

What is a review article?

Answer 9

A report that sums up the current knowledge in a particular field and discussed recent findings.

Question 10

Why is it important to peer review scientidic papers?

Answer 10

To assess the scientific quality of the report and examples of what might be changed after a peer review is alterations to the experimental design, more replicates, more experiments or a more suitable data analysis.