Unit 3.2 - experimentation

Question 1

What is a pilot study?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is the purpose of a pilot study?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Give advantages of pilot studies

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What are the three type of variables?

Answer 4

Independent, Dependent, Confounding

Question 5

What is an independent variable?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What is used if confounding variables cannot be controlled effectively?

Answer 8

Randomised Block Design

Question 9

What type of sampling is Randomised Block Design?

Answer 9

Stratified Sampling

Question 10

What is sampling done in regular intervals called?

Answer 10

Systematic sampling

Question 11

What are the two classes of variables?

Answer 11

Discrete

Continuous

Question 12

What are discrete variables?

Answer 12

Finite values that allow placement into groups

Question 13

Give an example of a discrete characteristic

Answer 13

Sex

Question 14

What are continuous variables?

Answer 14

Values that change gradually from one extreme to another

Question 15

Give examples of qualitative data

Answer 15

Colour of leaf

Emotions

Question 16

How is qualitative data presented?

Answer 16

bar graph

Question 17

Give examples of quantitative data

Answer 17

time, height

Question 18

What are the three types of data?

Answer 18

Quantitative
Qualitative
Ranked

Question 19

How is quantitative data presented?

Answer 19

Line graph/histogram

Question 20

How is ranked data presented

Answer 20

bar graph

Question 21

What is a multi factorial experiment?

Answer 21

An experiment that is changing more than one independent variable

Question 22

Give an example of a multi factorial experiment

Answer 22

Field Studies (ecology)

Question 23

What are some advantages of simple experiments?

Answer 23

Simpler experimental design
Variables are tightly controlled
Results are easy to analyse

Question 24

What are some disadvantages of simple experiments?

Answer 24

Not suitable for testing complex hypothesis
- Difficult to extrapolate

Question 25

What are some advantages in multi factorial experiments?

Answer 25

Allows examinations of complex interactions
Allows generalizations to be made
Results applicable to whole enviroments

Question 26

What are some disadvantages of multi factorial experiments?

Answer 26

More complex and time consuming
Difficult to control all variables
Analysis of data is complicated

Question 27

Define ‘Precision’

Answer 27

Closeness of repeated measurements to one another

Question 28

Define ‘Accuracy’

Answer 28

Measure of how close the data is to actual true value

Question 29

Define ‘Validity’

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Define ‘Reliability’

Answer 30

Whether a procedure yields consistent results each time repeated