804

Objective 804: Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or

experimental error.

Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias

or experimental error.or experimental error.

Key concepts/skills:Key concepts/skills:Level 1: Define key vocabulary. List possible sources Level 1: Define key vocabulary. List possible sources of bias or error.of bias or error.Level 2: Given a description of experiment or data Level 2: Given a description of experiment or data collection, identify the possible source of bias collection, identify the possible source of bias

or error. or error.Level 3: Given a description of experiment or data Level 3: Given a description of experiment or data collection describe methods or procedures to collection describe methods or procedures to

eliminate bias or error. eliminate bias or error.

Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or experimental error.experimental error.

Key vocabulary:Key vocabulary:biasbiasexperimental errorexperimental error(review conclusion)(review conclusion)

Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or experimental error.experimental error.

I.I. BiasBiasA.A. What is biasWhat is bias

1.1. A wish or expectation that an experiment will A wish or expectation that an experiment will lead to a certain conclusion.lead to a certain conclusion.

2.2. Example: If a pharmaceutical company is Example: If a pharmaceutical company is testing its own drug, the company and its testing its own drug, the company and its employees want the drug to work so they can employees want the drug to work so they can market it and make money.market it and make money.

Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or experimental error.experimental error.

Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or experimental error.experimental error.

II.II. Guarding against Experimental errorsGuarding against Experimental errorsA.A. MethodsMethods

1.1. Measure more than onceMeasure more than once

2.2. Review dataReview data

3.3. repeat experimentrepeat experiment

Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or Identify a faulty interpretation of data due to bias or experimental error.experimental error.

III.III. Guarding against BiasGuarding against BiasA.A. MethodsMethods

1.1. double-blind testing- researchers nor subjects double-blind testing- researchers nor subjects know who gets what treatmentknow who gets what treatment

2.2. placebo- artificial treatmentplacebo- artificial treatment

3.3. Independent researcher- researchers who do Independent researcher- researchers who do not have an interest in the success or failure of not have an interest in the success or failure of a product or ideaa product or idea