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If an odd result is found, repeat the experiment.

Unit 4 - Identifying Anomalous Results

This GCSE Biology quiz helps you spot anomalous results, decide whether to keep or exclude them, and explain what they mean for your conclusions.

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Fascinating Fact:

An anomalous result should not be ignored. It needs to be noted, and you should suggest possible reasons for why it occurred.

In GCSE Biology, you must analyse data from investigations carefully. This includes spotting anomalous results, thinking about why they happened, and deciding how they affect your conclusions.

Key Terms

Anomalous result: A result that does not fit the overall pattern shown by the other data points.
Repeat reading: A measurement taken again, under the same conditions, to improve reliability and check for odd results.
Mean (average): A typical value found by adding all readings together and dividing by the number of readings.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is an anomalous result in GCSE Biology experiments?

An anomalous result is a data point that does not follow the main trend of your graph or table. It stands out from the other readings and may be due to error.

What should I do if I get an anomalous result in a practical?

You should repeat the reading if possible, keep a record of the anomalous result, and explain in your conclusion or evaluation why it might have occurred and how you handled it.

Should anomalous results be included when I calculate a mean?

Often, anomalous results are excluded from the mean if you have a good reason to think they are wrong. You must explain clearly why you left them out in your analysis.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Anomalous results are...

always included in the calculation of mean (average)

excluded from the mean

included in the mean sometimes

crossed out

Bad data is still data. If there are anomalous results, the best thing that you can do is to repeat the experiment. When that isn't possible, discard them but ALWAYS state why you did that in the evaluation section

2 .

Anomalous results can be identified by looking at the...

equipment

results

method

hypothesis

Sometimes it is obvious from the numbers in front of you - other times, it only becomes obvious if you have plotted a graph or a chart of some sort

3 .

Which of these is the odd result?
2, 1, 2, 4, 3, 11

This one should have been easy to spot as it is so different from the rest

4 .

Anomalous points on a graph do not follow the...

line of best fit

fashion

hypothesis

method

Graphs are very useful for identifying anomalous results. The odd result will be more out of line with the other points on the graph

5 .

If an anomalous result is included in the data, it will increase this.

Mean

Mode

Range

Median

The greater the range, the less certainty there is about the reliability of the conclusion

6 .

Anomalous results can make the results...

more reliable

less reliable

the same

agree with the hypothesis

If anomalous results are included in a small sample size, they can make the result less reliable

7 .

What does anomalous mean?

Odd

Mean

Normal

Biased

An anomaly is something that does not fit the pattern

8 .

Anomalous results can be caused by...

using inaccurate measuring equipment

rushing the experiment

not repeating your measurements

any of the above

Human errors of many types can contribute to anomalous results, but in an exam you cannot just state human error, you should try to be specific

9 .

After you have written your results into a table, what do you do next?

Identify anomalous results

Carry out a risk assessment

Do an evaluation

Go home

You may need to draw a graph or a chart to help you

10 .

Which of the following would be the best thing to do if an odd result is found?

Ignore it completely

Panic

Repeat the experiment

Take an average

You would repeat the experiment as many times as needed. Never ignore an anomalous result, the least you should do is to mention it in your evaluation

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

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