Exam Review

Question 1

What are the 4 different types of hypothesis tests?

Answer 1

• Observational
• Meta- Analysis
• Model
• Controlled

Question 2

What are Means and Standard deviation?

Answer 2

• Standard deviation is a measure of how dispersed the data is in relation to the mean
• The mean is the average (sum total of all values, divided by the number of values in total)

Question 3

Where does variance come from?

Answer 3

• Variance is a measure of variability

- Calculated by taking the average of the squared deviation from the mean

Question 4

What does variance mean?

Answer 4

• It tells you the degree of spread in your data set (the more spread the data is, the larger the variance is in relation to the mean)

Question 5

How does variance (or standard deviation) change if you increase your sample size?

Answer 5

• The larger the sample size, the smaller the variance of the sampling distribution of the mean

Question 6

What does impact factor mean?

Answer 6

It is the average in a journal of how many times the article has been cited in that year

Question 7

What does inductive reasoning mean?

Answer 7

It doe not use explicitly use the hypothesis but it creates a generalization

Question 8

What does deductive reasoning mean?

Answer 8

It does use the hypothesis and is used to produce a prediction

Question 9

What is the scientific method?

Answer 9

Scientific method is away to seek more knowledge by forming/testing a hypothesis to answer a variety of questions

Question 10

What is meta-analysis

Answer 10

it is a one of the four ways to test a hypothesis, it compares results of other studies that have been done

Question 11

What is a observational test?

Answer 11

They are collected and compared to the predicted results

Question 12

what is a controlled experiment?

Answer 12

you are measuring a response variable that you choice to manipulate

Question 13

What is a mathematical model?

Answer 13

using various mathematical structures like graphs and equations to represent real world situations

Question 14

What are the similarities of the 4 ways to test a hypothesis?

Answer 14

1) Most seek to explain some observations
2) Most invoke hypotheses and use experiments
3) Many base conclusions on comparisons
between actual results and predictions

Question 15

What are the differences of the four ways to test a hypothesis?

Answer 15

4) Differences largely cosmetic and involve
jargon
5) There really isn’t any, their very similar

Question 16

Why do we use the classic scientific method?

Answer 16

• its simply and logical
• it applies to every branch of science
• has a high success rate

Question 17

How do we decide if claims are believable?

Answer 17

• Evaluate their evidence
• Evaluate conflicting interests
• Consider views of certified (and nonbiased) experts
• Determine effects of action vs. nonaction

Question 18

What is an argument?

Answer 18

when you use reasoning to support your conclusion

Question 19

What is a supporting reason also know as?

Answer 19

a premise

Question 20

how many premises are used for support?

Answer 20

one or more

Question 21

What must arguments have?

Answer 21

they need to have at LEAST one premise and one conclusion

Question 22

What are the six steps to the scientific method?

Answer 22

1) observe
2) Generate an alternative explanation
3) Generate a test for the explanation
4) Deduce a prediction
5) do the test and compare results with the prediction
6) make a conclusion

Question 23

What constitutes a well designed test?

Answer 23

•relevant to the hypothesis
•has a clearly defined response variable
•controlled (isolates the effect of one
variable, accounts for other variables)
•produces unique predictions
•replicated (examines more than one test
subject)
•practical and ethical

Question 24

How to make a model?

Answer 24

1.Decide on what you are trying to explain
2.Determine variables and constants that
could affect response variable
3.Carefully think about assumptions of
model system
4.Use above to generate mathematical
representation of system of study
5.Find parameter values for variables and
constants
6.Explore model dynamics

Question 25

What are the two type of modeling?

Answer 25

- Empirical | - Theoretical

Question 26

What is the empirical model?

Answer 26

Describes the statistical relationship among variables

Question 27

What is the theoretical model?

Answer 27

uses a mathematical framework to explore the sensitivity of a given response variable to changes parameter values

Question 28

What is the theoretical approach?

Answer 28

- uses logic and knowledge to create mathematical representation - seeks mechanisms underlying relationship - tests hypothesis by comparing quantitative predictions with actual data

Question 29

What are the positives of a mathematical model?

Answer 29

1) Useful for testing all kinds of hypotheses 2) Complements empirical approaches 3) Quantitative method to link theory with knowledge 4) Independence can be guaranteed 5) Can be relatively inexpensive and can be completed by anyone 6) Simple models can lead to unexpected and complex dynamics

Question 30

What are the negatives of the mathematical model

Answer 30

1)Simple models can lead to unexpected and complex dynamics 2) Open to bias by modeler 3) If poorly constructed, models may produce meaningless results 4) Mathematics are highly abstract and can limit understanding 5) Not feasible for many questions due to lack of information

Question 31

What are the positives of the meta analysis test?

Answer 31

``` •Powerful and robust (based on many studies) •Wide scope (high applicability) •Can account for many confounding variables •Can be inexpensive ```

Question 32

What are the negative of the meta analysis test?

Answer 32

* Uncontrolled variables can be problematic * Not feasible for many questions due to lack of information * Can be difficult to standardize results among many studies * Publication bias

Question 33

How do we estimate variance?

Answer 33

* Look at distribution of values (graphs) * Look at range (difference between highest and lowest value) * Estimate the average deviation from the mean (or something similar)

Question 34

What affects the estimates standard deviation?

Answer 34

- The amount that is observe differs from the mean | - The number of observations made

Question 35

What is retraction?

Answer 35

Its when a journal withdraws a publication. More/less it means the published paper is not published anymore

Question 36

What are the five reasons retractions happen?

Answer 36

1) Inadvertent mistakes. 2) Fraud 3) Misattributing authorship or affiliation 4) Falsifying reviews 5) Conflicts of interest (usually unstated)

Question 37

What is 'Basic Science'?

Answer 37

- contributes to general knowledge and an understanding of nature and its laws - motivated simply by curiosity - little or no concern about value of results for humans

Question 38

What is applied science?

Answer 38

- does not typically add to general understanding of the world - uses knowledge and information to address specific problems - motivated by desire to improve technology

Question 39

Replication versus Realism

Answer 39

<>Small experimental systems advantageous due to high replication and repeatability. <>Bottle systems have little natural relevance <>Large experimental systems advantageous due to realism <>Very costly to study and usually limited replication, few design options, and no repeatability

Question 40

What are the primary sources of uncertainty?

Answer 40

1) Lack of data 2) Poor scientific framework 3) No/inadequate models

Question 41

What are the forms of research?

Answer 41

- Undergraduate honors - Graduate (MSc and PhD) - Postdoctoral - University faculty - Industrial - Government