Science inquiry skills

Independent Variable

A variable that isn’t changed by other variables.

Dependent Variable

A variable that depends on other variables.

Controlled Variable

Anything that needs to be controlled to not affect the outcome.

Testable Hypothesis

Something that can be proven or disproved as a result of testing. Usually written, if…then.

Experimental investigation design

Planning a set of procedures to investigate a relationship between variables.

Observational investigation design

Where you observe participants and phenomena in their most natural settings.

Qualitative investigation design

Open-ended questions whose answers are not easily put into numbers such as 'how' and 'why.

Advantage of experimental design

Researchers have firm control over variables to obtain results.

Disadvantage of experimental design

Highly prone to human error.

Advantage of observational design

Disadvantage of observational design

Advantage of qualitative design

It is more flexible than other investigation designs.

Disadvantage of qualitative design

The process is time consuming.

Objective measures

Information observed through your senses of hearing, sight, smell and touch. For example, physical examination.

Subjective measures

anecdotal information that comes from opinions, perceptions, or experiences. For example, description of symptoms.

Quantitative data

measures of values or counts and are expressed as numbers.

Qualitative data

It describes qualities and characteristics.

Advantage and disadvantage of objective measures

more reliable but time consuming.

Advantage and disadvantage of subjective measures

can effectively capture changes in both explicit and implicit components of the variable but are subject to bias.

Advantage and disadvantage of quantitative data

Doesn’t have as much bias but can be open to misinterpretation.

Advantage and disadvantage of qualitative data

provides an in-depth understanding of human behaviour but can be inconsistent.

Averages

a number expressing the central or typical value in a set of data.

Standard deviations

A measure of how dispersed the data is in relation to the mean.

IVCARD

Informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality, accurate reporting of findings, right to withdraw and debriefing.

Communication and collaboration

Review and verification of results, psychologists progress research together.

Development and application

Developments in research, enterprise and technology and development of solutions.

Influence and impact

both influences and is influenced by economic, sociocultural etc perspectives. Impact through beneficial or unexpected consequences.

Biopsychosocial model

it is a general model stating that biological, psychological and social factors all play a part in health and disease.

Biological

Physical health, genetical vulnerabilities and disability.

Psychological

Physical health, coping skills, social skills and family relationships.

Social

Peers, family circumstances and family relationships.