CH5 Scientific investigations - short”

Scientific Investigations in Biology

Key Composition

  • ILMJ D Scientific Investigations

Key Knowledge

  • Biological Concepts: Understand definitions and significance of biological science concepts from the investigation.

  • Aim vs. Hypothesis vs. Theory vs. Law: Differentiate between aims, hypotheses, models, theories, and scientific laws.

  • Logbook Use: Logbook is essential to authenticate primary data generated.

Key Science Skills

  • Develop aims/questions, formulate hypotheses, and make predictions.

  • Plan and conduct investigations while following safety and ethical guidelines.

  • Generate, collate and record data; analyze and evaluate methodologies.

  • Construct evidence-based arguments and draw conclusions.

Types of Investigations

Experimental Investigations

  • Subjects are deliberately exposed to treatments (e.g., plants in different salinity levels) to observe results.

  • Enables observation of causation within biological contexts.

Observational Investigations

  • Data is collected without altering conditions (e.g., analyzing water samples for pollutants).

  • Provides insights based on natural occurrences.

The Scientific Method

  • A systematic process involving:

    • Asking questions

    • Planning investigations

    • Collecting data

    • Analyzing results

    • Concluding findings

Log Books

  • Purpose: Record experiments, results, and scientific reports with dates and lists of group members.

Definitions

  • Aim: Purpose of investigation linking IV and DV.

  • Hypothesis: Tentative, testable, and falsifiable statement predicting outcomes based on variables.

  • Model: Representation of ideas (e.g., mathematical models or conceptual frameworks).

  • Theory: Well-supported explanation based on investigation results (e.g., cell theory).

  • Law: Statement describing expected occurrences in nature (more stable than theories).

Variables in Experiments

  • Independent Variable (IV): The factor manipulated.

  • Dependent Variable (DV): The factor measured.

  • Controlled Variables (CV): All other factors kept constant.

Methodology in Investigations

  • Various methods including controlled experiments, fieldwork, modeling, etc.

  • Importance of ensuring reliability and validity within experimental processes.

Ethical Guidelines

  • Must adhere to health, safety, and ethical considerations throughout investigations.

  • Bioethics: Area involving moral conduct in research.

    • Focus on principles like integrity, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and respect.

Data Measurement Qualities

Accuracy

  • The closeness of a measurement to the true value.

Precision

  • Closeness of repeated measurements to each other;

  • repeatability and reproducibility are also critical in validating experiments.

Organizing and Analyzing Data

  • Primary data: Organize using tables, graphs, statistical analyses.

    • Use scatterplots, line graphs, bar graphs, etc., based on data type.

  • Evaluate patterns, relationships, and identify sources of error during analysis.

Reporting Findings

  • Conclusions should reflect data collected, supporting or refuting the hypothesis with strong evidential backing.

  • A scientific report should include standard sections: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, References.

Limitations of Investigations

  • Consider limitations in methodology that could affect data: access to precise tools, control of variables, and conditions.

  • Limitations may also extend to the models and theories used to interpret findings.