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CE902 > Week 17 > Flashcards

Week 17 Flashcards

1
Q

What is science?

A

Knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws

Obtained and tested through the scientific method

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2
Q

What is the difference between testable and non-testable questions?

A

Testable - answered with specific activities

Non-testable - don’t have a definitive answer

E.g. testable: is the sky more blue on a clear summer than on a winter day

non-testable: why is the sky blue

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3
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

Statement about the world, whose truth is being tested

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4
Q

What properties must a hypothesis have?

A

Precise and testable

Falsifiable - aka you can prove it’s wrong

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5
Q

What is wrong with the following hypotheses:

“If electrons were 10% less massive, no life would exist “

“Macs are better than PCs”

A

Not testable - can’t test against all life forms

Not falsifiable - a PC enthusiast would always be able to disagree

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6
Q

Who said hypotheses must be falsifiable, and when?

A

Karl Popper, 1959, in “The Logic of Scientific Discovery”

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7
Q

What are the 3 steps involved in conducting hypothesis-driven research?

A
  1. Frame a hypothesis
  2. Design and conduct experiments to test it
  3. See if correct or disproved
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8
Q

When is a hypothesis appropriate or inappropriate, and why?

A

Appropriate for small number of cases to decide between, e.g. which of a few drugs is better or something

Not good for vast number of possibilities, such as “The density of this rock is 0.1g/cm3”

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9
Q

“Measuring a Value” is a type of ___________ _________

A

Scientific research

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10
Q

“Measuring a function or relationship” is a type of _________ ___________

A

Scientific research

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11
Q

How is a function or relationship measured?

A

Control one variable (independent), measure the response in another (dependent), keep all the rest constant (actually called control variables)

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12
Q

Often, measured functions/relationships can be linked to an original _________

A

hypothesis

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13
Q

What is “constructing a model”?

A

Type of scientific research

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14
Q

What is the purpose of constructing a model?

A

Can be used to predict outcomes

Can form the basis of new models which extend the original

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15
Q

“Predicting London’s weather for next week” is an example of what type of scientific research?

A

Constructing a model

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16
Q

What is observational or exploratory research?

A

Observing or testing things without any particular hypothesis in mind, to see if any patterns emerge

17
Q

What is industrial or applied research?

A

Research done in response to market/demand for some type or product or facility

e.g. aircraft design and testing

18
Q

What are 6 types of research method in science?

A

Hypothesis driven research

Measuring a value

Measuring a function/relationship

Constructing a model

Observational/exploratory research

Industrial/applied research

19
Q

What steps are involved in hypothesis-driven research?

A

Identify independent and dependent variables

Frame null and alternative hypotheses

Collect data

Analyse data

Accept or reject null hypothesis

20
Q

What will the alternative hypothesis always say?

A

Changes in independent variable lead to changes in dependent variable

21
Q

What is a Type I error in hypothesis testing?

A

Researched rejects the null hypothesis even though it’s actually correct (false positive)

Aka incorrectly predicting a change in independent leads to change in dependent

22
Q

What is a Type II error in hypothesis testing?

A

Researcher accepts null hypothesis even though it’s false (false negative)

aka ignores a real effect of independent variable

23
Q

What is bias?

A

Actions that lower the validity of an experiment, willfully or otherwise

24
Q

What are some examples of bias in experiments?

A

Doctor knowing which group gets a placebo

In data-driven tests, collecting only data which fits the predicted model

25
Q

What errors can happen when collecting measurements? How can they be ameliorated?

A

Random error/noise - collecting lots of data smooths this out

Systematic error - some consistent distortion of measurements. Ensure all equipment is working correctly, calibrate it

CE902 (9 decks)

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