Replication & Annomalies
Science: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 11.4.4
Replication & Annomalies
Replication in scientific investigations means repeating the tests to check how accurate they are.
Similar measurements
- Measurements which are similar for each test are likely to be more accurate and reliable results.
- Measurements which are very different for each test are likely to be less accurate and reliable results.
3 or more similar measurements
- 3 or more similar measurements in a test could be used to give an average.
- Be careful: you should not include any measurements that are very different from the rest of your measurements in your average.
Anomalies
- An anomaly is a measurement very different from the other measurements of the same dependent variable.
- An anomaly can be a measurement error.
- An anomaly can also show you that something is meaningfully different.
Test yourself on Replication & Annomalies
What is the term for repeating scientific tests to check their accuracy?
Measurements that are very different for each test are likely to be what?
What is the term used for a measurement that is very different to the other measurements due to an error?
You measured a distance four times. Which result is most likely to be an anomaly?