Advanced Higher/ A-Level Biology course notes. Concise notes covering the topic of scientific principles and processes. Notes are easy to follow, highlight key-points, and give supportive question examples where appropriate.
SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES B PROCESSES
1 a Scientific Method
The scientific method is a cycle involving the gathering and organisation of testable and
reproducible knowledge
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Everyhypothesis scientific
MUSTbetestable Cycle
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Evaluation Results
Results Gathering
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The cycle begins with the formation of a testable hypothesis a question you wish
to ask that you can answer by experimentation and observation
Once the hypothesis is formed the experiments must be designed to test it accurately reliably
and validly
Then the results must be gathered recorded analysed and evaluated to allow
for the formation of a valid conclusion
This may then lead to the formation of a new hypothesis and the cycle begin again
Evolution Of Scientific Knowledge
In science refinement of theory is the norm and scientific knowledge can be thought of as
the current best explanation Conflicting data or conclusions can be resolved through careful
evaluation or can lead to further more creative experimentation One off results are treated
with caution Scientific theories only become accepted once they have been checked independently
NV L L HY P O TH E S I S
The null hypothesis proposes that there will be no statistically significant effect as a result of the
experiment treatment
If there is evidence foraneffect unlikelydue tochance then the null hypothesis is rejected
Failure to find an effect i.e a negativeresult is a valid finding as long as the experiment is well
designed
e.g Enzyme activity is not affected by temperature
, 1 b Scientific literature 31 Communication
◦During the natural progression of completing research, or part of it, is to share those ndings
with the rest of the scienti c community.
◦This way, researchers across the globe can compare notes and ndings, and can often make
discoveries they had not expected by doing so.
◦To share their ndings, research scientists may publish their full experimental reports in peer
reviewed scienti c journals, present and discuss them at conferences, and/or present them at
seminars.
◦Publication of scienti c research is the most common method of sharing ndings, and of
gaining recognition in the scienti c community.
◦The papers that publish must be full and clear in all details.
◦They must include all methods, data, analysis and conclusions so that others are able to repeat
an experiment from them and obtain signi cantly similar results.
OR A
Peer review is when scientificpapers are read and analysed
by specialists with expertise in the
relevant field of study
the reviewers assess the scientific quality ofthe submitted manuscript and make recommendations
regarding its suitability for publication
Peer review allows the scientific community a degree of self regulation Avoiding the publication
of papers with unsound results poor methodology and or possibly damaging conclusions
Examples of peer reviewers requests include
alterations to experimental design additional experiments
such as better control of
confounding variables different or more suitable data analysis
increased number of inclusion of missing key background
replicates information
Only after a successful peer review will papers be accepted and published in scientific
journals
Review Articles
Review articlesoften appear in scientific journals such as nature
A review article is a summary of current knowledge and recent findings in a particularfieldThis
may involve a collection of severalpapers inthat area
They are usually written byexperts in that area of study and provide an up to theminute
account of an area of science
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