Module 5: investigations
The variable that is deliberately changed in an experiment.
What is the independent variable
What relationship exists between scientific understanding and technology?
cyclical or interdependent.
Numerology and Iridology are both examples
What is pseudoscience
A famous disease (now eradicated) studied by Edward Jenner to create the first vaccine
What is smallpox?
This describes how close measurements are to each other.
What is precision?
These Scientists tested their hypothesis that the bacteria H. pylori was responsible for causing peptic ulcers instead of the previous idea that stress and lifestyle factors were the primary cause.
Who are Marshall and Warren
This technology helped reveal the structure of DNA
What is X-ray diffraction
When this is small it reduces the generalisability of a study and its reliability.
What is sample size
Important ethical consideration when conducting an experiment with human participants.
What is informed consent.
The difference between accuracy and reliability in scientific investigations.
Accuracy is closeness to the true value; reliability is consistency of results.
van Helmont investigated this aim using a willow plant
Where does a plant's mass come from during growth.
Describe the relationship between temperature and the volume of a gas
As temperature increases, the volume of a gas increases (directly proportional).
The Hawthorne effect (People modify their actions or improve performance simply because they receive attention or know they are being monitored) was thought to be the cause of the results of the original Hawthorne study but was found to be only correlation, not causation. True or false?
True.
The definition of bioprospecting
What is the search for useful compounds from natural sources such as plants and animals?
This could have occurred if an experiment gives very consistent results, but all measurements are too high.
What is a systematic error?
what is pitch/frequency/wavelength?
Describe 1 benefit and 1 limitation of digital technologies for taking measurements.
(answers may vary).
This is an inactive substance with no physical or medicinal effect used as an experimental control.
What is a placebo?
one example of international regulation in scientific research
What is the declaration of Helsinki, Nuremberg code, etc?
Increasing these can help design a valid and fair experiment.
What are controlled variables?
This observation led Percy Spencer to investigate microwaves
a candy bar melted near a magnetron.
Base isolation in tall buildings reduces the amount a building will move during an earthquake. This technology is based on the understanding of which of Newton's laws of motion?
First law (law of inertia).
Commercial industries funding research for products for market is an example of this.
What is a conflict of interest?
The factors that influence and affect what scientific research is conducted? (all 3)
What are economic, social, and political influences?
The difference in purpose between a scientific investigation and a scientific report.
Investigations test a hypothesis to answer a question, whereas a scientific report aims to communicate and discuss results.