These notes summarize the difference between the validity, reliability, accuracy and credibility of sources. There is also a summary of variables, how to do a graph trend, what is fact, law, hypothesis, theory, ethics, good laboratory practice and indigenous knowledge systems. Everything you need i...
Scientific Skills
Validity
Refers to the extent to which a concept or conclusion is well-
founded and based on evidence.
The validity of an experiment may be influenced by the equipment,
the experimental method, and the analysis of the results.
We are investigating a relationship between cause and effect: how
changing X affects Y- if you allow other changes at the same time,
then you cannot make a valid conclusion about how X affected Y
since Y may have been affected by the other changes as well.
Establishing and implementing your controlled variables correctly is
one of the ways to ensure validity when conducting investigations.
Reliability
Refers to the dependability or consistency of the investigation-
repeat multiple times and still get the same result.
An experiment that is unreliable would yield erratic, unstable or
inconsistent results.
Accuracy
Refers to how close the final result is to the correct or accepted
value.
Accuracy is influenced by both your measurement technique as well
as the equipment used – error of parallax for accuracy.
Credibility of Sources
The combination of both the objective and subjective components to
making a source believable for the information or message it is
providing. – How truthful it is/ believable /unbiased
How trustworthy is the source
, We want to be able to critique information from a source for its
scientific correctness: (TO DECIDE IF CREDIBLE)
o Who said it?
o Where did you read it?
o Authors expertise
o Authors Point of View (Potential bias)
o Date of Publication
o What is the intention of the person conveying the message?
Do they gain anything?
o Type of Platform
o What method is being used.?
o What data is being measured.?
o Did they conduct an investigation themselves?
o Look at context of the source
o Targeted audience ? (e.g., You Magazine – aimed at women)
Intentionally leaving out information makes it bias
Religion is not a foundation for scientific research
Types of Sources
SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS (Nature, Scientific America,
The Lancet)
A publication used to further the progress of
science
Hard copy or online – Can take the form of a
URL
Peer Review (Believable) – a study must be
reviewed by at least two other scientists who
are specialists in the field of your
investigation.
If the scientist passes this analysis, their work
will be published and available for other scientists to view and
potentially replicate.
HIGHLY CREDIBLE SCIENTIFIC SOURCES- due to the
nature one must follow in order to be published
“Journal” indicates that it is from a scientific journal or told it
is from a journal – have a volume and issue number
DOCTORS/PROFESSORS/EXPERTS
e.g., Prof Glenda Gray
Evaluate who+ in what context they are speaking (their
qualifications)
Titles of expertise that are bestowed upon individuals who
have produced a body of work that passes the requirements
for that field.
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