Unit 3 Flashcards
What is the scientific cycle?
Observation, testable hypothesis, experimental design, gathering and analysis of data and evaluation of results + conclusion
What does the null hypothesis state
That there will be no statistically significant effect as a result of the experiment
When is the null hypothesis rejected?
When there is evidence for an effect
What should one off results be treated with?
Caution- essential to do independent repeats
When is a negative result ok?
When the experiment is well designed
What is peer review?
The process of other experts reviewing and critiquing work
What should scientific findings include to allow repeats
Methods data analysis and conclusion
what are common methods of sharing findings?
Seminar, talks, posters and academic journals
What is replacement?
the use of alternatives to animals in the study
What is reduction?
Keeping the animals used to a minimum
What is refinement?
minimising the negative impact on animals being used
What are the ethics of human studies?
informed consent, right to withdraw data and confidentiality
what is a review article
summarise current knowledge and new findings
What is a pilot study?
a small scale investigation of a planned research project which assesses validity and checks techniques
What does a pilot study allow for?
modification of experimental design and appropriate range of values for the independent variable
What are variables?
factors which can be measured controlled or changed in an experiment
What is a confounding variable
a variable aside from the independent variable that can affect the result
What is a continuous variable?
wide range of values
discrete
clear cut differences
simple experiment
one independent variable is being investigated
multi factorial
combination of independent variables or treatments
observational
independent variable is not directly controlled by the investigator
randomised block design
controls confounding variables so they effect all treatment and control groups the same
control groups
used for comparison with treatment groups
negative control
provides results in absence of a treatment
positive control
provides results with a well known treatment and proves system can detect a positive result
reliability
can be improved by repeating investigation or measurements
validity
variables are controlled
placebo
a measurable change to the dependent variable which is due to a patients expectations
representative sample
a sample has the same mean and same degree of variation around the whole population
qualative
subjective and descriptive
quantitive
can be measured with objectively
