Unit 3 - All Key Areas

Question 1

Scientific Cycle

Answer 1

1) observation, 2) construction of a testable hypothesis, 3) experimental design, 4) gathering, recording, analysis of data, 5) evaluation of results, 6) conclusions , 7) the formation of new hypotheses where necessary.

Question 2

Null Hypothesis

Answer 2

is a hypothesis that says there is no statistical significance between the two variables.

Question 3

Refine, Reduce, Replace

Answer 3

Three Rs of animal studies

Question 4

Refine

Answer 4

Ensuring competence in the experimental technique by reducing human error

Question 5

Reduce

Answer 5

Using fewer animals in an animal study

Question 6

Replace

Answer 6

Using a different type of animal in an animal study

Question 7

Peer review

Answer 7

Most scientific publications use peer review. Specialists with expertise in the relevant field assess the scientific quality of a submitted manuscript and make recommendations regarding its suitability for publication.

Question 8

Pilot Study

Answer 8

1.to develop and/or practice protocols in order to 2.ensure validity of experimental design, 3.check effectiveness of techniques, 4.find a suitable range of values for 5.identify and control confounding variables, 6.identifying suitable numbers of the independent variable, 7. to check whether results can be produced in a suitable time frame.

Question 9

Independent variable

Answer 9

Variable that is changed in a scientific experiment

Question 10

Dependent variable

Answer 10

Variable being tested and measured in a scientific experiment

Question 11

Confounding variable

Answer 11

Variable besides the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable

Question 12

Distinct variable

Answer 12

Variables that are specific and unrelated to each other

Question 13

Continuous variable

Answer 13

Variables that have a range of values

Question 14

Quantitative data

Answer 14

Data that is measured (eg numbers)

Question 15

Qualitative data

Answer 15

Data that is observed (eg colour)

Question 16

Ranked data

Answer 16

Observations put into an order from smallest to largest

Question 17

Parasite load

Answer 17

A measure of the number of parasite found within a host organism

Question 18

Positive control

Answer 18

Treatment that is included to check that the system can detect a positive result when it occurs

Question 19

Negative control

Answer 19

Provides results in the absence of a treatment

Question 20

Precision

Answer 20

The closeness of repeated measurements to one another

Question 21

Accuracy

Answer 21

Data, or means of data sets, are close to the true value.

Question 22

Validity

Answer 22

Variables controlled so that any measured effect is likely to be due to the independent variable.

Question 23

Reliability

Answer 23

Consistent values in repeats and independent replicates.

Question 24

Multifactorial

Answer 24

Name given to an experiment which has more than one independent variable

Question 25

In vitro

Answer 25

An investigation carried out using biological molecules or cells out with their normal biological system, e.g. cell culture

Question 26

In vivo

Answer 26

An investigation carried out using a living organism, e.g. mouse model organism.

Question 27

Correlation

Answer 27

When two variables seem to be connected

Question 28

Causation

Answer 28

When changing the independent variable causes the effect noted in the dependent variable

Question 29

Informed consent, withdraw at any time, confidentiality

Answer 29

Ethical considerations when using human subjects in studies (3)

Question 30

Science is

Answer 30

the gathering and organisation of testable and reproducible knowledge.

Question 31

Failure to find an effect (ie a negative result}

Answer 31

is a valid finding, as long as an experiment is well designed

Question 32

scientific knowledge

Answer 32

can be thought of as the current best explanation which may then be updated after evaluation of further experimental evidence.

Question 33

Conflicting data or conclusions

Answer 33

can be resolved through careful evaluation or can lead to further, more creative, experimentation.

Question 34

One-off results

Answer 34

are treated with caution.

Question 35

Scientific ideas only become accepted

Answer 35

once they have been checked independently.

Question 36

The importance of publication of methods, data, analysis and conclusions in scientific reports

Answer 36

so that others are able to repeat an experiment

Question 37

Common methods of sharing original scientific findings include

Answer 37

seminars, conference talks and posters and publishing in academic journals.

Question 38

The importance of peer review and critical evaluation

Answer 38

So that specialists with expertise in the relevant field assess the scientific quality of a submitted manuscript and make recommendations regarding its suitability for publication.

Question 39

The use of review articles,

Answer 39

to summarise current knowledge and recent findings in a particular field

Question 40

Critical evaluation of science coverage in the wider media

Answer 40

to increasing the public understanding of science and to highlight the issue of misrepresentation of science in the media.

Question 41

Importance of integrity and honesty

Answer 41

the unbiased presentation of results, citing and providing references, avoiding plagiarism.

Question 42

The replication of experiments by others reduces

Answer 42

the opportunity for dishonesty or the deliberate misuse of science.

Question 43

plagiarism.

Answer 43

the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own

Question 44

Avoiding plagiarism by

Answer 44

the requirement to cite and supply references.

Question 45

Ethics In human studies state that

Answer 45

participants must be given Informed consent, the right to withdraw data and confidentiality.

Question 46

The justification for scientific research include that

Answer 46

1. the value or quality of science investigations must be justifiable in terms of the benefits of its outcome including the pursuit of scientific knowledge. 2. The risk to and safety of subject species, individuals, investigators and the environment must be taken into account.

Question 47

Legislation

Answer 47

1. requires that many areas of scientific research are highly regulated and licensed by governments. 2. limits the potential for the misuse of studies and data.

Question 48

These confounding variables must be

Answer 48

held constant if possible, or at least monitored so that their effect on the results can be accounted for in the analysis.

Question 49

In cases where confounding variables cannot easily be controlled,

Answer 49

blocks of experimental and control groups can be distributed in such a way that the influence of any confounding variable is likely to be the same across the experimental and control groups.

Question 50

The control of laboratory conditions

Answer 50

allows simple experiments to be conducted more easily than in the field.

Question 51

Experiments conducted in vivo tend to be

Answer 51

more complex than those in vitro.

Question 52

Drawback of a simple experiment is

Answer 52

that its findings may not be applicable to a wider setting

Question 53

Observational studies

Answer 53

where Investigators may wish to use groups that already exist, so there is no truly independent variable.

Question 54

These 'observational' studies are

Answer 54

good at detecting correlation but, as they do not directly test the model, they are less useful for determining causation.

Question 55

Reason for sampling

Answer 55

where it is impractical to measure every individual

Question 56

Sample size is determined by

Answer 56

the extent of the natural variation within a population.

Question 57

A representative sample should share the same

Answer 57

mean and the same degree of variation about the mean as the population as a whole.

Question 58

In random sampling,

Answer 58

members of the population have an equal chance of being selected.

Question 59

In systematic sampling,

Answer 59

members of a population are selected at regular intervals

Question 60

In stratified sampling,

Answer 60

the population is divided into categories that are then sampled proportionally.

Question 61

Placebos

Answer 61

Placebos can be included as a treatment without the presence of the independent variable being investigated.

Question 62

Placebo effect

Answer 62

Placebo effect is a measurable change in the dependent variable as a result of a patient's expectations, rather than changes in the independent variable

Question 63

Use of box plots

Answer 63

to show variation within and between data sets

Question 64

Correlation

Answer 64

Correlation is an association and does not imply causation

Question 65

Positive correlations

Answer 65

correlation exists when an increase in one variable is accompanied by an increase in the other variable.

Question 66

A negative correlation

Answer 66

exists when an increase in one variable is accompanied by a decrease in the other variable.

Question 67

Strength of correlation

Answer 67

is proportional to spread of values from line of best fit.