Week 2 - Content Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is the scientific method?
acceptable logical pathway taken by scientists to provide evidence that answers questions about the phenomena we observe
What are the steps of the scientific method?
- Make an observation
2.write hypothesis
3.develop aims based off hypothesis - Design & plan experiment
- Assess risks of experiment
- Conduct experiment and record data
- Analyse and interpret data
- What can be concluded from data and hypothesis
9.Repeat experiment - Communicate findings
What do you do if the data recorded supports the hypothesis?
Repeat experiment at least 3 times
What do you do if the data recorded from the experiment does not match the hypothesis?
Repeat experiment or propose new hypothesis
What is an observational study?
Researchers record and observe events or behaviours, without intervening or manipulating subjects eg/ link between smoking and lung cancer
What is an experimental study?
Where researchers intentionally manipulate one or more of the variables to observe the effect on other variables.
What is a longitudinal study?
Involves repeated observations of a certain variable/s over a long period of time.
What is a prospective study?
Follows a cohort over a period of time to observe how certain factors impact the cohort.
What is a retrospective study?
A retrospective study investigates a events or exposures that have already occurred using existing data to examine them
What is a cross-sectional study?
Looks at data from a certain population at a single point in time.
What is the independent variable?
It is the variable which is changed in order to measure or observe a certain outcome, recorded on X-axis.
What is the dependant variable?
The variable which the investigator measures, recorded in y-axis.
What are nuisance variables?
An unwanted variable which can impact the data recorded of the dependant variable, potentially producing bias.
What are confounding variables?
Influences both the independent and dependant variables eg/ it is hard to tell if someone if loosing their memory due to age or alzheimers.
What is a negative control?
A group in a experiment which does not receive treatment and therefore should not show any change
What is a positive control
A group in which receives regular treatment and thus shows a particular change.
Why are controls important when designing an experiment?
Controls or limits impact of potential variables.
