Unit 3 Flashcards
Investigative biology
Scientific cycle in the correct order
debating ideas and coming up with a hypothesis to test
Researching others work
Designing appropriate experiments
Observing and collecting data from experiments
Analysing data through comparing, interpreting and applying statistics
Evaluating results
Forming conclusions
Refining the original hypothesis
Failure to find an effect (i.e. a negative result) is a ________ finding, as long as an experiment is well ________.
Failure to find an effect (i.e. a negative result) is a valid finding, as long as an experiment is well designed.
Null hypothesis
The null hypothesis is a hypothesis based on the default position, thus that two variables are unrelated.
Rather than setting out to prove hypotheses, scientists often set out to disprove or falsify…………….
Rather than setting out to prove hypotheses, scientists often set out to disprove or falsify null hypotheses
Scientific ideas only become accepted once they have been verified (or alternatives falsified) _________________
Scientific ideas only become accepted once they have been verified (or alternatives falsified) independently
Scientific reports follow a basic format:
Scientific reports follow a basic format:
title; aims and hypotheses; methods; results; analysis of results; discussion and evaluation.
Scientific reports should be written in a manner that allows other scientists to _________ the experiment for verification or further work (________ _________)
Scientific reports should be written in a manner that allows other scientists to repeat the experiment for verification or further work (Peer review)
Peer review
Scientists who specialise in a particular field read reports prior to publication, assessing reliability.
Where the use of animals is unavoidable, the 3Rs are recommended:
Where the use of animals is unavoidable, the 3Rs are recommended:
- Replacement
- Reduction
- Refinement
3Rs- Replacement
Replacement- can the animal be replaced with another? Who decides which animals are acceptable for use and which are not though?
3Rs- Reduction
can fewer animals be used?
3Rs- Refinement
can the procedure be refined to reduce human error?
Scientific investigations are influenced by:
- risk assessments that must take account of that safety of humans or animals involved and any impact on the environment;
- regulation, policy and licensing by governments which aim to limit the potential for the misuse of studies and data;
- funding which can influence the direction and pace of scientific progress.
When using humans, ___________ is essential and subjects must be aware of their right to ___________ their data at any time
When using humans, consent is essential and subjects must be aware of their right to withdraw their data at any time
A pilot study is a……………
A pilot study is a small-scale investigation of a planned research project.
The main aim of a pilot study is to assess ___________ and check ______________/techniques
The main aim of a pilot study is to assess validity and check procedures/techniques
Pilot studies are also known as ‘____________’ studies since they investigate whether a suggested protocol is feasible
Pilot studies are also known as ‘feasibility’ studies since they investigate whether a suggested protocol is feasible
Variables are factors which can be ___________,_____________ or ________________ within an experiment.
Variables are factors which can be changed, controlled or measured within an experiment.
Any scientific experiment will be subject to a series of ___________.
Any scientific experiment will be subject to a series of variables.
An experiment usually has three types of variables
An experiment usually has three types of variables: independent, dependent and confounding.
The independent variable is the variable that is………………………….
The independent variable is the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable.
The dependent variable is the variable being…………………………
The dependent variable is the variable being tested and measured in a scientific experiment.
confounding variables are…………………….
confounding variables are other variables besides the independent variable may affect the dependent variable
discrete variables are
Discrete variables are distinct and unrelated to each other
Continuous variables have
Continuous variables have a range of values
Quantitative data is
Quantitative data is information about quantities.
Qualitative data is
Qualitative data is information about qualities and often involves descriptions.