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Scientists evaluate in order to improve.

Unit 4 - Evaluating

This GCSE Biology quiz helps you practise evaluating investigations, checking validity and reliability, and deciding how much trust you can place in experimental results.

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Fascinating Fact:

Validity is about whether the investigation really tested the question it was designed to answer. Good control of variables helps to make results more valid.

In GCSE Biology, you are expected to evaluate experiments by commenting on validity, reliability and accuracy. You identify strengths and weaknesses in methods and suggest realistic improvements to support clear conclusions.

Key Terms

Validity: How well an investigation actually tests the question it was designed to answer.
Reliability: How consistent results are when an experiment is repeated under the same conditions.
Anomalous result: A result that does not fit the overall pattern in the data and may be due to error.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does validity mean in GCSE Biology experiments?

Validity in GCSE Biology means that the experiment really tests the hypothesis or question it was designed to investigate, with key variables controlled and an appropriate method used.

How can I improve the reliability of a science experiment?

You can improve reliability by repeating measurements, calculating a mean, using a larger sample size, and keeping the method consistent each time so random errors are reduced.

What is the difference between accuracy and reliability in science?

Accuracy is how close a result is to the true value, while reliability is about getting similar results when you repeat the experiment under the same conditions.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

A successful evaluation can identify these.

Errors

Results

Data

Equipment

No set of results are perfect

2 .

If the assessment is entirely favourable...

further action is required

no further action is required

another evaluation must be done

the experiment is incomplete

An evaluation will tell you if this is the case

3 .

Evaluations are an essential part of the scientific method.

True

False

Never

Sometimes

The world's best scientists always evaluate their experiments to try to make sure that other scientists can't find things wrong and criticise their conclusions

4 .

A written evaluation will be found...

at the start of the report

at the end of the report

with the results

somewhere in the middle of the report

Evaluations are found at the end of the write-up. They can be part of the conclusion or a separate section, whatever suits you best

5 .

Evaluations involve assessing the...

strengths as well as weaknesses

strengths only

weaknesses only

nothing

The strengths of an experiment can be used to show that your results are valid and reliable

6 .

Scientists evaluate in order to...

explore

regress

improve

succeed

Some people see evaluation as a negative skill. It is not. It is a very important skill to have and getting into the habit of evaluating your biology experiments will help you to develop this skill for use when you are an adult

7 .

Which is the best order of events?

Prediction - method - results - conclusion - evaluation

Method - prediction - results - evaluation - conclusion

Results - method - prediction - evaluation - conclusion

Evaluation - prediction - method - results - conclusion

The other answers are less logiccal ways of writing a report and this is the format that will be expected if you study biology at higher levels or publish research reports

8 .

Evaluation is an assessment of...

the plan

the method

the mean

the entire experiment

To gain top marks, you should be evaluating the experiment as you go along, even if you don't write anything down until the end

9 .

Evaluations tell us what can be...

improved

worsened

repaired

concluded

It is about spotting possible weaknesses in an experiment that could lead to unreliable results and strengths that give you confidence in your results

10 .

Evaluations can lead to...

results

improvements

disasters

experience

Successful evaluations can work out what went wrong and lead to improvements

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Practical skills

Author: Donna Davidson (GCSE Biology Teacher & Examiner, Quiz Writer)