Unit 3.2 - Experimentation Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a pilot study?

A

Short experiment that are commonly carried out before starting a scientific investigation

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2
Q

What is the purpose of a pilot study?

A

To develop and improve experimental protocols, ensuring the experimental design is suitable for investigation the aim

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3
Q

Give advantages of pilot studies

A
  • Allows a new protocol to be developed
  • Ensures an appropriate range of values for the independent variable
  • Allows practice of an established protocol
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4
Q

What are the three type of variables?

A

Independent, Dependent, Confounding

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5
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

Variable that is deliberately manipulated by the investigator to determine if it has an effect on the outcome of the experiment

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6
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

Variable that is measured to determine if changing the independent variable has an effect

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7
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

Variable, other than the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable

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8
Q

What is used if confounding variables cannot be controlled effectively?

A

Randomised Block Design

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9
Q

What type of sampling is Randomised Block Design?

A

Stratified Sampling

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10
Q

What are the two classes of variables?

A

Discrete

Continuous

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11
Q

What are discrete variables?

A

Finite values that allow placement into groups

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12
Q

Give an example of a discrete characteristic

A

Sex

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13
Q

What are continuous variables?

A

Values that change gradually from one extreme to another

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14
Q

Give examples of qualitative data

A

Colour of leaf

Emotions

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15
Q

How is qualitative data presented?

A

Bar graph

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16
Q

Give examples of quantitative data

A

Time

Height

17
Q

What are the three types of data?

A

Quantitative
Qualitative
Ranked

18
Q

How is quantitative data presented?

A

Line graph/histogram

19
Q

How is ranked data presented

A

Bar graph

20
Q

What is a multi factorial experiment?

A

An experiment that is changing more than one independent variable

21
Q

Give an example of a multi factorial experiment

A

Field Studies (ecology)

22
Q

What are some advantages of simple experiments?

A
  • Simpler experimental design
  • Variables are tightly controlled
  • Results are easy to analyse
23
Q

What are some disadvantages of simple experiments?

A
  • Not suitable for testing complex hypothesis

- Difficult to extrapolate

24
Q

What are some advantages in multi factorial experiments?

A
  • Allows examinations of complex interactions
  • Allows generalizations to be made
  • Results applicable to whole enviroments
25
Q

What are some disadvantages of multi factorial experiments?

A
  • More complex and time consuming
  • Difficult to control all variables
  • Analysis of data is complicated
26
Q

Define ‘Precision’

A

Closeness of repeated measurements to one another

27
Q

Define ‘Accuracy’

A

Measure of how close the data is to actual true value

28
Q

Define ‘Validity’

A

Whether conclusions drawn from a set of results are credible (fair testing has taken place)

29
Q

Define ‘Reliability’

A

Whether a procedure yields consistent results each time repeated