What is a Science?

Question 1

Scientific Process

Answer 1

Observation, identification, description, experimental investigation and theoretical explanation of phenomena

Question 2

Causation

Answer 2

When one thing can be identified as the cause of something that occured

Question 3

Steps involved in the Scientific Process

Also referred to as scientific method and experimental method

Answer 3

1. Aims
2. Hypothesis
3. Method
4. Results
5. Conclusion

Question 4

Aim

Give an example of an aim

Answer 4

A statement which gives the reason or purpose for carrying out the experiment

Ex: To investigate whether or not caffeine consumption improves memory

Aims always start with ‘To…’

Question 5

Hypothesis

Give an example of a hypothesis

Answer 5

A prediction about what you expect to happen in the experiment

Ex: People have have slept for longer will have a quicker reaction time

Question 6

Directional Hypothesis/One-tailed Hypothesis

Give an example of a directional hypothesis

Answer 6

Predicts a change will occur and states the direction of the relationship

Ex: Having more caffeine will increase reaction times of participants

Question 7

Non-Directional Hypothesis

Give an example of a non-directional hypothesis

Answer 7

A hypothesis which predicts a change, but does not state the direction of the relationship

Ex: Having more caffeine will change the reaction times of participants

This is non-directional as it doesn’t say whether the reaction times will go up or down

Question 8

Independent Variable

IV

Answer 8

The variable which the researcher manipulates in order to observe its effects on the DV

Question 9

Dependent Variable

DV

Answer 9

The variable which changes due to the manipulation of the IV, (The variable we are measuring in an experiment)

Question 10

Control Variable

Answer 10

Any variable which is kept constant throughout the experiment

+ Avoids manipulation of DV, as only the IV should manipulate what we are measuring

Question 11

In any scientific experiment, there will always be at least 2 variations of the independent variable.

Why?

Give an Example to prove your point

Answer 11

• Allows researcher to establish cause and effect relationship
• This is because any change in the DV can then be linked to the specific IV variation which caused the change

Ex: Mark conducts a study about whether Lucozade will make plants grow more than water
* If Mark tested 2 plants and used lucozade on them both then he wouldn’t be sure whether the plant grew because of the lucozade or if it was going to grow anyway
* In order to test whether it did, or didn’t grow because of it he gave one plant water, so he could establish a cause and effect relationship

Question 12

In any scientific experiment, there will always be at least 2 variations of the independent variable.

What is it called when we have multiple variations of the independent variable?

Answer 12

Levels of the Independent Variable

If there are 2 IVs, then there are 2 Levels of the Independent Variable, etc…

Question 13

Levels of the Independent Variable

Answer 13

Number of different variations of IV there are, in the same experiment

Question 14

Operationalisation

Give an example of how Mark could operationalise his DV for his experiment on plant growth

Answer 14

Definining how the dependent variable is going to be measured

Non-operationalised DV - Plant growth

Operationalised DV - Height of the plant in cm

Question 15

Method

Answer 15

The procedure in which the researcher follows

Question 16

Write a method for Mark’s study concerning whether Lucozade would cause more plant growth than water.

Answer 16

1. Collect two pots and fill them with the same type of soil
2. Plant seeds in soil
3. Place planted seeds in the same room with equal access to light
4. Give one of the plants 100ml of Lucozade and one 100ml of water everyday at 8:00am
5. Use a ruler to record the plants’ height in cm every week for 2 months

Question 17

Results

Answer 17

The changes to the DV observed during the experiment

Question 18

Conclusion

Answer 18

The interpretation of the results, (what they show)