Unit 3 - Investigative Biology Flashcards

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1
Q

Name the stages of the scientific cycle

A

Observation; build a hypothesis; experimental design; gathering recording and analysis of data; evaluation of results and conclusions; revising hypothesis where necessary

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2
Q

What is a null hypothesis?

A

It propeses there will be no statistically significant effect as a result of the experimental treatment

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3
Q

Name common methods of sharing original scientific findings

A

Seminars, talks, posters at conferences and publishing in academic journals

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4
Q

What does peer review mean?

A

When specialists with expertise in the relevant field assess the scientific quality of submitted research and make reccomendations on its suitabilty for publication

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5
Q

What are review articles?

A

They summarise current knowledge and recent findings in a paticular field

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6
Q

What are the 3 Rs used in animal studies?

A

Replacement, reduction and refinement

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7
Q

What ethics are involved in human studies?

A

Informed consent, right to withdraw and confidentiality

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8
Q

How can the reliabilty of an experiment be increased?

A

Replicating the experiment to reduce the chance for dishonesty or the deliberate missuse of science

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9
Q

Define validity

A

Variables are controlled so that any measured effect is likely to be due to independent variable

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10
Q

Define reliability

A

Consistent values in repeats and independent replicates

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11
Q

Define accuracy

A

Data, or means of data sets, are close to the true value

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12
Q

Define precision

A

Measured values are close to each other

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13
Q

What is a piloty study used for?

A

To plan procedures, assess validity and check techniques as well as figure out the number of repeats required to give a representative value

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14
Q

What is an independent and dependent variable?

A

Independent - variable that is changed
Dependent - variable being measured and observed

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15
Q

What is a drawback of simple experiment?

A

Findings may not be applicable to a wider setting

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16
Q

What is a multifactorial experiment?

A

An experiment with a combination of more than one independent variable or combination of treatments

17
Q

Define confounding variables

A

Variables beside the independent variable which may affect the dependent variable

18
Q

What is a randomised block design?

A

When blocks of treatment and control groups are randomly distributed in such a way that the influence of confounding variables is likely the same across all treatments and control groups

19
Q

Why are controls used?

A

Used for comparision with the results of treatment groups

20
Q

What are negative and positive controls?

A

Negative - provides results in the absence of treatments
Positive - included to check that the system can detect a positive result

21
Q

What is placebo effect?

A

A measurable change in the dependent variable as a result of a patient’s expectations, rather than changes in the independent variable

22
Q

Define in vitro and in vivo

A

In vitro - performing a given procedure in a controlled environment outside living organism
In vivo - experiement using whole, living organism

23
Q

What determines an appropriate sample size?

A

The extent of natural variation within a population

24
Q

Describe a representative sample

A

A representative ample should share the same mean and the same degree of variation about the mean as the population as a whole

25
Q

Define random sampling

A

Members of a population have an equal chance of being selected

26
Q

Define stratified sampling

A

The population is divided into categories that are then sampled proportionally

27
Q

Define systematic sampling

A

Member of a population are selected at regular intervals

28
Q

How can the reliabilty of measuring instruments or procedures be tested?

A

Repeated measurements or readings of an individual datum point. The variate observed indicates precision but not neccessarily accuracy

29
Q

Why should independent replication be carried out?

A

Overall results can only be considered reliable if they can be achieved consistently

30
Q

Describe quantative and qualitative data

A

Quantative - can be measured and given numerical values
Qualitative - subjective and descriptive

31
Q

Define ranked data

A

When data recorded is placed into hierarchical order

32
Q

Define positive and negative correlation

A

Positive - exists when an increase in one variable is accompanied by an increase in the other
Negative - exists when an increase in one variable leads to a decrease in the other variable