Unit 12A: Investigative design

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

The main purpose of an investigation and what you hope to acheive

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

A prediction the outcomes, which are testable experimentally and form the basis of the methodology

Question 3

Independent variable

Answer 3

The variable that is changed by the experimenter

Question 4

Dependent variable

Answer 4

The variable that changes in response to changes in the independent variable; is what is being measured

Question 5

Controlled Variable

Answer 5

Anything kept constant or monitored, so it does not affect the independent and dependent variables and therefore the validity of experimental results

Question 6

Control group

Answer 6

The setup or group in an experiment that does not receive treatment; it is used as the standard of comparison

Question 7

Positive control

Answer 7

A control group that receives a treatment with a known response that can then be compared to the experimental group/s

Question 8

Negative control

Answer 8

A control group that isnt expected to produce a result

Question 9

Repeatability

Answer 9

Recording of results produced when the experiment is repeated in one lab by one operator under the same conditions

Question 10

Reproducibility

Answer 10

When the same results are obtained for the same experiment by different operators using different equipment

Question 11

Reliability

Answer 11

The extent to which an experiment always yields the same results under the same conditions

Question 12

Validity

Answer 12

The extent to which all variables in the experiment have been controlled so that the independent variable is the only factos that changes