topic 1.1: practical skills in written examination

Question 1

accuracy

Answer 1

closeness of agreement between result and true value

Question 2

anomaly

Answer 2

a value not part of inherent variation

Question 3

confidence

Answer 3

qualitative judgement expressing extent to which conclusion is justified by quality of evidence

Question 4

error

Answer 4

difference between individual measurement and true value

Question 5

precision

Answer 5

closeness of agreement between individual measurements obtained under same conditions, depending only on distribution of random errors

Question 6

repeatability

Answer 6

precision obtained when measurements are produced over short time scale by one person using same equipment

Question 7

reproducability

Answer 7

precision obtained when measurements are produced over wider timescale by different people using equivalent but different equipment

Question 8

resolution

Answer 8

smallest change in quantity being measured that can be detected by an instrument

Question 9

uncertainty

Answer 9

characterises range of values within which the true value is asserted to lie

Question 10

validity

Answer 10

whether a measurement measures what it is intended to, so an investigation is valid if it is suitable to the question

Question 11

setting out tables

Answer 11

iv in first column, dv in columns to right, processed data to far right