Unit 3: KA3 - Reporting and critical evaluation of biological research Flashcards
List the parts a Scientific report’s introduction must possess.
- Purpose an context of the study
- Sources, supporting statements, citations, references
- decisions regarding choices of method
- supporting and contradicting information identified
- aims and hypotheses
What is the purpose of the aim
to link the dependent and independent variables
What should a method section of a scientific paper contain?
Sufficient information to allow another investigator to repeat the work.
What should experimental design do?
It should address the intended aim and test the hypothesis.
What makes an experimental design invalid?
If it does not:
- address the intended aim
or
- test the hypothesis
What should treatment effects be compared to
controls
When may the validity of an experiment be compromised?
When factors other than the independent variable influence the value of the dependent variable.
Describe selection bias, and why it is bad.
- selection bias is selection of a sample in a non-random way
- The sampling is not representative of the whole population.
Why is it important for a sufficient sample size to be used?
This allows the researcher to determine whether changes to the independent variable caused an effect in the dependent variable.
How must data be presented?
In a clear logical manner, suitable for analysis
Define the term ‘Outlier/anomaly’
Observations that lie an abnormal distance from other values in a random sample from a population
What should consideration be given to regarding outliers/anomalies?
The validity of the results
What are statistical tests used for?
To determine whether the differences between the means are to likely to have occurred by chance
Describe a statistically significant result.
One that is unlikely to be due to chance alone
What do error bars indicate?
The variability of data around the mean
What should conclusions refer to?
The aim, the results and the hypothesis
What should be taken into account when concluding an investigation
The validity and reliability of the experimental design
What should be considered when analysing results
Whether the results can be attributed to correlation or causation
What should the evaluation of conclusions also refer to?
- Existing knowledge
- Results of other investigations
What should Scientific writing reveal?
An awareness of the contribution of scientific research to increasing scientific knowledge and to the social, economic and industrial life of the community.
