Investigative Biology: SQA Advanced Higher Biology Area 3 quiz quiz

A testable proposed explanation for an observation

A proven fact accepted by all scientists

A summary of the results of an experiment

A list of equipment for a procedure

The factor the investigator deliberately changes

The factor that is measured in response

Any factor that must be kept constant

The factor that is impossible to control

Otherwise a change in the result could be due to them rather than the independent variable

Because they are the variable being measured

Because they increase the sample size

Because they make the experiment observational

To trial and refine the method and identify problems before the main study

To publish the final conclusions

To replace the need for a control

To prove the hypothesis is correct

Evaluation of scientific work by independent experts before publication

A second experiment by the same researcher

A summary written for the public

The process of choosing a sample at random

It records patterns without manipulating variables, so it shows only correlation

It always uses too large a sample

It controls every confounding variable

It cannot record any data

A baseline showing what happens without the treatment

Proof that the treatment works

A treatment known to give a strong response

A dummy treatment for participants

To remove bias by keeping both participants and researchers unaware of group allocation

To allow researchers to choose the groups

To increase the systematic error

To replace the need for replication

It lets variability be estimated and random error be averaged out

It removes the need for a control group

It changes the independent variable

It guarantees the hypothesis is correct

An experiment performed outside the organism, such as in cell culture

An experiment in a living organism

A study in the organism's natural setting

A purely theoretical calculation

By calibrating instruments and standardising the technique

By repeating measurements and averaging only

By increasing the sample size only

It cannot be reduced at all

Accuracy is closeness to the true value; precision is closeness of repeats to each other

Accuracy is closeness of repeats; precision is closeness to the true value

They mean the same thing

Accuracy applies only to graphs

The variability or uncertainty in each mean

The mean value only

The independent variable

The number of participants

Reliability is consistency on repetition; validity is whether the study tests what it claims

Reliability is whether the study tests what it claims; validity is consistency

They are the same thing

Reliability applies only to surveys

The sample is too small and unrepresentative to support a claim about the whole population

Three participants is the ideal sample size

Observational studies always prove causation

A small sample removes all confounding variables

Honest recording with no fabrication or plagiarism and proper referencing

Reporting only results that support the hypothesis

Omitting any data that disagree with the conclusion

Avoiding peer review of the work