Science Inquiry Skills and SHE

Experimental Designs

type of investigation where an independent variable is deliberately changed to see the effect on a dependent variable

participants are placed in one of 2 groups, an 'experimental group' and a 'control group'

Qualitative Designs

participants discuss or describe their behaviour, thoughts or feelings in certain circumstances

objective quantitative data

numerical data not based on opinion

subjective quantitative data

numerical data based on opinion

qualitative data

non-numerical

either spoken or written verbal data

independent variable

the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variable

dependent variable

the variable being measured in a scientific experiment

control group

participants in an experiment who do not receive the treatment

experimental group

Participants in this group are exposed to the independent variable (that is the group that receives the "treatment".

variable

any factor that can vary in quantity or quality.

sample

usually a subsection, or smaller group, of research participants selected from a larger group (population) of research interest.

unrepresentative samples

a sample which does not represent the population due to its size or that is biased in term of factors such as gender, age, socioeconomic status or cultural groups. This type of sample can lack internal validity which means that it does not test the hypothesis.

reliability

refers to the consistency and stability of the results obtained from a research study.

valid

a research study that has produced results which accurately measure the behaviour or event that it claims to have measured.

mean

the arithmetical average of all the individual scores (or measures) in a set of scores. It is calculated by adding all the scores together and dividing the total by the number of scores.

median

the middle score (or midpoint) of a set of scores. It is the point that divides the set of scores into two equal halves when the scores are arranged from highest to lowest (or lowest to highest).

bar/column graph

useful for showing results that have been grouped into categories

scatter-plot

when the points on a set of axes do not form a clear 'straight-line' relationship, but are scattered

confidentiality and privacy

Participants have a right to privacy, so any details of their involvement in a study (for example, test results or personal data) cannot be disclosed unless their written consent is obtained

voluntary participation

Participants must not be pressured to take part in a study and researchers should avoid the use of coercion to gain participants' involvement in research.

right to withdraw

The researcher must inform participants of what the research is about and that they are free to participate,or to decline to participate, or to withdraw from a study at any time during the study should they choose to do so.

informed consent

Wherever possible, participants must be appropriately informed of the type of study and the reason(s) for the research prior to agreeing to participate

debriefing

after the study has been completed, the researcher must provide an opportunity for participants to obtain appropriate information about the study, including its procedures, results and conclusions. Researcher must provide information about services available to participants to treat any unnecessary distress that occurs as a result of the study.

possible harm

participants should suffer no lasting physical or psychological effects during or after the investigation

focus group

A small group of individuals who are led in discussion by a professional consultant in order to gather opinions on and responses to candidates and issues.

Delphi Technique

a decision-making method in which members of a panel of experts respond to questions and to each other until reaching agreement on an issue

content analysis

applying a systematic approach to record and value information gleaned from secondary data as it relates to the study at hand

self-report methods

procedures in which people are asked to rate or describe their own behavior or mental state in some way

biopsychosocial model

a model of health that integrates the effects of biological, behavioral, and social factors on health and illness

science as a human endeavor

explores the ways in which society shapes science and science shapes society

collaboration and communication

Scientists often need to work together with others to achieve their research or application aims.

development and application

Ideas in science are often used to progress understanding and uses of the content knowledge.

Influence

the needs of society may direct research or developments and scientific findings may have positive or unexpected influences on society

Observational Designs

Study design that involves observations by the researcher regarding the interplay of an existing independent variable (drug exposure) with the dependent variable (outcome of interest).

Frequency Table

A table for organizing a set of qualitative data that shows the number of times each identified theme appears.

standard deviation

a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score (higher = more spread)

deception

misleading participants about the true purpose of a study or the events that will actually transpire

cultural relativism

the practice of judging a culture by its own standards and not those of a more dominant culture