BPK 304W (questions with complete
solutions) already passed
Scientific Method - correct answer ✔✔Define the problem --> Develop a research question and
hypothesis --> Test the hypothesis (experiment, testing, model, etc.) --> Compile the results -->
Communicate the results
Scientific Method - Defining the problem - correct answer ✔✔-Observe a phenomenon and gain
a deep understanding of it
-Conduct a literature review --> review relevant research
Scientific Method - Developing the research question/hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔-Want
research question to be precise question that study will address
-Use PICO (population, intervention, comparator/control group, outcome)
-Hypothesis = statement explaining phenomenon under consideration, based upon researcher's
understanding before any testing has occurred
Scientific Method - Testing the hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔-Hypothesis --> Prediction -->
Experiment --> Evaluate accuracy of predictions --> Modify hypothesis and repeat
-Hypotheses become a model when it has been shown to repeatedly hold true under certain
conditions (e.g. multiple studies around the world with same results)
-Theories/laws are developed when a hypothesis has been tested and shown to hold under
many different experimental conditions --> difficult to dismiss because they are based on
repeated and consistent experimental evidence
-Statistical tests allow for determination of a possible difference (t-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA, etc.)
or if there is a relationship (correlation, regression, etc.)
,Study design - correct answer ✔✔-Ethics approval for human (and sometimes animal) research
--> Ethics Board approval, subject provide informed consent
-Sampling (recruiting study participants) --> specify recruitment methods (only random if
employing a truly random method); can determine sample size from power calculation
-Measurement tools should be valid and reliable --> valid = accurate, minimizes systemic
measurement error, eliminated by calibration
--> reliable = reproducible, minimizes random measurement error --> objective tools are usually
more reliable than subjective
Reliability vs. Validity - correct answer ✔✔*Reliability* = reproducible --> objective tools
increase reliability
-Reliability minimizes random measurement error
*Validity* = accuracy --> calibration increases validity
-Validity minimizes systemic measurement error
Scientific Method - Compile the results - correct answer ✔✔-EXCEL and SPSS for data analysis --
> make sure you do the *correct* analysis
-Attention to detail is important (e.g. correct split file or select cases)
Types of variables - correct answer ✔✔-*Independent variable (IV)* --> the variable that is
changed or manipulated (also known as predictor or exposure variable)
-*Dependent variable (DV)* --> the variable that is observed and changes based on the
independent variable (also known as outcome or response variable)
-*Covariate* --> variable that are held constant either by research design or statistical analysis
(also known as confounders or controlled variables)
Scientific Method - Communicate the results - correct answer ✔✔-Conferences/research
symposiums --> Up-to-date articles that are not published yet
-Peer-reviewed journal articles --> most highly regarded form of scientific communication
, -Books --> often not peer-reviewed, so not as highly regarded
-Non-traditional formats with greater reach --> blogs, social media channels, press releases, op-
eds
Peer-Reviewed Journal Article Format - correct answer ✔✔-*Abstract* --> a brief, structured
summary of article
-*Introduction* --> relevant background and study objectives/hypothesis
-*Methods* --> study population, experimental protocol, statistical analysis; should be detailed
enough to be reproducible
-*Results* --> includes tables/figures; clear description of results without any interpretation
-*Discussion* --> interpret results in the context of the hypothesis and existing literature;
comment on further research directions/limitations
Frequency Distribution - correct answer ✔✔-Also known as a histogram
-Shows the number of times that each possible outcome occurs
Normal Frequency Distribution - correct answer ✔✔-Symmetrical distribution (same amount on
left and right)
-Mean = median = mode
-Defined amount of data in each region (i.e. in each s.d.)
-First s.d. = 34.13% (i.e. -1 to +1 = 68.26%)
-Within +/-2 s.d. = 95.44%
Skewness - correct answer ✔✔-A measure of symmetry (or lack of symmetry)
-Data is skewed if it does not look the same to the left and right of the centre point
-Positive skew = more data above middle (more to the right)
-Negative skew = more data below the middle (more the the left)
solutions) already passed
Scientific Method - correct answer ✔✔Define the problem --> Develop a research question and
hypothesis --> Test the hypothesis (experiment, testing, model, etc.) --> Compile the results -->
Communicate the results
Scientific Method - Defining the problem - correct answer ✔✔-Observe a phenomenon and gain
a deep understanding of it
-Conduct a literature review --> review relevant research
Scientific Method - Developing the research question/hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔-Want
research question to be precise question that study will address
-Use PICO (population, intervention, comparator/control group, outcome)
-Hypothesis = statement explaining phenomenon under consideration, based upon researcher's
understanding before any testing has occurred
Scientific Method - Testing the hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔-Hypothesis --> Prediction -->
Experiment --> Evaluate accuracy of predictions --> Modify hypothesis and repeat
-Hypotheses become a model when it has been shown to repeatedly hold true under certain
conditions (e.g. multiple studies around the world with same results)
-Theories/laws are developed when a hypothesis has been tested and shown to hold under
many different experimental conditions --> difficult to dismiss because they are based on
repeated and consistent experimental evidence
-Statistical tests allow for determination of a possible difference (t-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA, etc.)
or if there is a relationship (correlation, regression, etc.)
,Study design - correct answer ✔✔-Ethics approval for human (and sometimes animal) research
--> Ethics Board approval, subject provide informed consent
-Sampling (recruiting study participants) --> specify recruitment methods (only random if
employing a truly random method); can determine sample size from power calculation
-Measurement tools should be valid and reliable --> valid = accurate, minimizes systemic
measurement error, eliminated by calibration
--> reliable = reproducible, minimizes random measurement error --> objective tools are usually
more reliable than subjective
Reliability vs. Validity - correct answer ✔✔*Reliability* = reproducible --> objective tools
increase reliability
-Reliability minimizes random measurement error
*Validity* = accuracy --> calibration increases validity
-Validity minimizes systemic measurement error
Scientific Method - Compile the results - correct answer ✔✔-EXCEL and SPSS for data analysis --
> make sure you do the *correct* analysis
-Attention to detail is important (e.g. correct split file or select cases)
Types of variables - correct answer ✔✔-*Independent variable (IV)* --> the variable that is
changed or manipulated (also known as predictor or exposure variable)
-*Dependent variable (DV)* --> the variable that is observed and changes based on the
independent variable (also known as outcome or response variable)
-*Covariate* --> variable that are held constant either by research design or statistical analysis
(also known as confounders or controlled variables)
Scientific Method - Communicate the results - correct answer ✔✔-Conferences/research
symposiums --> Up-to-date articles that are not published yet
-Peer-reviewed journal articles --> most highly regarded form of scientific communication
, -Books --> often not peer-reviewed, so not as highly regarded
-Non-traditional formats with greater reach --> blogs, social media channels, press releases, op-
eds
Peer-Reviewed Journal Article Format - correct answer ✔✔-*Abstract* --> a brief, structured
summary of article
-*Introduction* --> relevant background and study objectives/hypothesis
-*Methods* --> study population, experimental protocol, statistical analysis; should be detailed
enough to be reproducible
-*Results* --> includes tables/figures; clear description of results without any interpretation
-*Discussion* --> interpret results in the context of the hypothesis and existing literature;
comment on further research directions/limitations
Frequency Distribution - correct answer ✔✔-Also known as a histogram
-Shows the number of times that each possible outcome occurs
Normal Frequency Distribution - correct answer ✔✔-Symmetrical distribution (same amount on
left and right)
-Mean = median = mode
-Defined amount of data in each region (i.e. in each s.d.)
-First s.d. = 34.13% (i.e. -1 to +1 = 68.26%)
-Within +/-2 s.d. = 95.44%
Skewness - correct answer ✔✔-A measure of symmetry (or lack of symmetry)
-Data is skewed if it does not look the same to the left and right of the centre point
-Positive skew = more data above middle (more to the right)
-Negative skew = more data below the middle (more the the left)
