Working Scientifically
What's covered
Key facts
Development of scientific thinking
Observations and measurements are turned into data; data becomes evidence when it is selected and interpreted to test a hypothesis, and that evidence is then used to support or refute theories and models.
Experimental design
A control experiment is an identical experiment run without the independent variable, used for comparison.
Graphs and data analysis
An anomalous result is a point that does not follow the trend of the other points.
Mathematical skills
Percentage change = (change ÷ original value) × 100.
Scientific vocabulary, units and nomenclature
AQA glossary: a measurement result is considered accurate if it is judged to be close to the true value.
Uncertainty and error
A balance that always reads 0.5 g too high is a systematic error — all readings are shifted by the same amount.
Development of scientific thinking
Science-based technologies bring benefits but also have associated hazards/risks, which must be considered alongside the benefits when evaluating an application of science (AQA WS1.5).
Experimental design
Control variables are the variables kept the same throughout the experiment.
Graphs and data analysis
A categoric (label) variable such as colour is plotted as a bar chart; a continuous (numerical) variable such as wavelength is plotted as a line graph.
Mathematical skills
The range of a dataset is the largest value minus the smallest value; for 12, 15, 11, 19, 13 the range is 19 − 11 = 8.
Sample questions
A taste of the 70 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
What best describes a scientific hypothesis?
- ✓A proposed explanation that leads to testable predictions
- •A random guess made before any observations are taken
- •A specific result that is certain to occur in any experiment
- •A well-tested explanation supported by much existing evidence
What is the independent variable in an experiment?
- •the variable kept constant throughout
- •the variable most likely to produce error
- ✓the variable you deliberately change
- •the variable you measure as the outcome
What is a line of best fit?
- •A line drawn through only the first and last data points
- •A line joining every data point in order
- ✓A line or curve passing as close as possible to all points
- •A line that passes through the origin only
What is 0.08462 rounded to 2 significant figures?
- •0.08
- •0.084
- •0.0846
- ✓0.085
In the AQA glossary, when is a measurement result considered accurate?
- ✓When it is judged to be close to the true value
- •When the instrument can detect very small changes
- •When the same person repeats it and gets the same result
- •When there is little spread about the mean value
What is a random error?
- •a consistent shift in all readings caused by faulty equipment
- •a mistake that only affects the first measurement in a series
- •an error resulting from misreading the scale on an instrument
- ✓unpredictable variation affecting results differently each time
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