Key term
CCEA A-Level Life and Health Sciences 0008
Experimental Techniques
Human Body Systems
Topic overviewBlood vessels, the heart and cardiac outputHeart sounds, ECG traces, pulse and blood pressureBody fluids, haemoglobin and the Bohr effectThe respiratory system, gas exchange and lung diseaseMonitoring breathing and lung volumesCellular respiration and ATPHomeostasis, blood glucose and thyroxineSodium, blood pH and oxygen saturationA balanced diet and nutritional needs through lifeCholesterol, minerals, vitamins, alcohol and exercise
Physical Chemistry in Industrial Processes
Topic overviewMoles, reacting masses and percentage yieldTitration types, indicators and standard solutionsTitration calculations and molarityEnthalpy changes and calorimetryHess's law and average bond enthalpiesCollision theory, rates and the Maxwell–Boltzmann distributionCatalysts, chemisorption and catalytic convertersReversible reactions, the Haber process and the Contact processScale-up, costs and siting a chemical plant
Brain ScienceDouble Award
Topic overviewBrain structure and frontal lobe damageNeurones, synapses and the endocrine systemAlzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and stem cell therapySchizophrenia and mental health awareness in Northern IrelandThe biology of aggression and methods of studying the brainStress, the stress response and stress managementMemory models, forgetting and eyewitness testimonyAbnormality, phobias, depression and OCDExperiments, observations, self-report and research designHypotheses, sampling, ethics and descriptive statistics
Material ScienceDouble Award
Topic overviewMaterial properties and selectionStress, strain and the Young modulusStress–strain graphs, creep and fatigueDensity, hardness and conductivity testingMetals, ceramics, glasses, polymers and compositesAtomic and microscopic structure of materialsAlloys, annealing and biomaterialsSmart materialsNanomaterials and semiconductors
Medicine, Drugs and Clinical TrialsDouble Award
Topic overviewCategories of medicine and routes to drug discoveryMedicines from natural sources, drug names and the ATC systemDrug development, preclinical testing and the therapeutic indexPhases of clinical trials and trial designLicensing, UK regulators, Yellow Card and trial ethicsFormulations, routes of administration and drug absorptionDistribution, metabolism, elimination and sites of drug actionQuantitative analysis of medicines and antibacterial bioassays
Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation
Topic overviewThe scientific method, literature reviews and Harvard referencingDescriptive statistics and the normal distributionNull hypotheses, significance and choosing a statistical testInvestigation design, Design of Experiments and project plansGood Laboratory Practice, risk assessment and COSHHExperimental error, scientific writing and evaluation
Organic Chemistry
Topic overviewOrganic formulae, homologous series and functional groupsIUPAC naming and types of organic reactionStructural isomerism and E/Z isomerismAlkanes from crude oil, combustion and halogenationVehicle pollutants, catalytic converters and biofuelsAlkenes, pi bonds and electrophilic additionClassifying alcohols, making ethanol and its effects as a drugOxidation of alcohols, IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometryAddition polymers, plastic waste and nylonPreparing and purifying aspirin
Medical PhysicsA2 option
Topic overviewBody temperature and clinical thermometersBlood pressure readings and the sphygmomanometerHeart activity experiments and EEG tracesX-ray tubes, radiographs and CT scansFlexible endoscopes, optical fibres and lasersUltrasound A-scans, B-scans and acoustic impedanceMRI scanning and gamma camera imagingAlpha, beta and gamma radiation and half-lifeRadiopharmaceuticals, radiotherapy and radiation protection
Sound and LightA2 option
Topic overviewTransverse and longitudinal waves and wave graphsPhase difference and the electromagnetic spectrumOuter, middle and inner earSound intensity and the decibel scaleStanding waves, harmonics and resonance tubesHearing response, phons and equal loudness curvesStructure of the eye, rods and conesAccommodation, lens power and correcting long sightTotal internal reflection and fibre-optic communicationDipole antennas, wireless networks and radarAttenuation of radio waves and the Doppler effect
Genetics, Stem Cell Research and CloningA2 option
Topic overviewDNA structure and the evidence for the double helixRNA, genes and the triplet codeGenotype, phenotype and monohybrid inheritanceDihybrid crosses, epistasis and the chi-squared testDNA replication and the Meselson–Stahl experimentMeiosis and genetic variationInsulin, factor VIII and chymosin from genetically modified microbesRecombinant DNA technology and gene cloningGenetic engineering, food supply and ethicsGene therapy and cystic fibrosisGenetic disease, screening and counsellingGenetic fingerprinting and gel electrophoresisStem cells, therapeutic cloning and their ethics
MicrobiologyDouble Award
Topic overviewBacteria, fungi and protozoaViruses, viroids and prionsClassifying bacteria, fungi and virusesLight and electron microscopyLaboratory safety, biocontainment and quality assuranceAseptic technique, growth media and inoculationCounting and measuring microbial growthGrowth requirements and growth inhibitionAntibiotics, PCR, gene therapy and pharmaceutical microbiologyThe gut microbiome in health and disease
Oral Health and DentistryDouble Award
Histology and PathologyDouble Award
Topic overviewSpecimen processing, data protection and safety lawClinical biochemistry tests and electrophoresisBlood smears and identifying blood cellsBlood grouping, cross-matching and transfusionDiagnostic and surveillance work in hospital microbiologyPreparing and staining tissue sectionsRecognising tissues, atheroma and emphysema on slides
Analytical Chemistry TechniquesDouble Award
Topic overviewVolumetric analysis in industry and healthcareApplied titrations of vinegar, indigestion tablets and bleachRedox titration of iron tablets and evaluating titrationsPrinciples of colorimetryColorimetric analysis of copper ore, aspirin and ironThin-layer chromatography and its usesVisualising chromatograms and identifying painkillers and pigmentsCalorimetry and combustionMolar enthalpy and bond energy calculationsQualitative tests for cations and gases
Enabling TechnologyDouble Award
Topic overviewECG and EEG machines in patient monitoringUltrasound and IVF equipment in fertility treatmentProsthetic limbs, hearing aids and cochlear implantsWorkflow and equipment in a medical laboratoryOngoing monitoring of a long-term conditionHealth data collection, databases and data protection
Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation
- 6 subtopics
- 18 things to know
- A2 1
What Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation covers
Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation is examined in Unit A2 1, Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation — internally assessed, a core unit. It covers the scientific method, literature reviews and Harvard referencing, descriptive statistics and the normal distribution, null hypotheses, significance and choosing a statistical test, investigation design, Design of Experiments and project plans, good Laboratory Practice, risk assessment and COSHH and experimental error, scientific writing and evaluation.
Where it is assessed
A2 1
Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation — internally assessed, compulsory.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 6 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- The scientific method, literature reviews and Harvard referencingWhat makes an investigation scientific, falsifiable hypotheses, negative results, choosing an area of research, literature reviews, judging sources, and Harvard referencing.Open →
- Descriptive statistics and the normal distributionMean, median and mode, variance and standard deviation with worked values, the normal distribution, skew, spreadsheets for statistics and why n − 1 is used.Open →
- Null hypotheses, significance and choosing a statistical testInferential statistics, null and alternative hypotheses, p values and significance, Type I and Type II errors, choosing a t-test, chi-squared or correlation, and worked chi-squared and t-test decisions.Open →
- Investigation design, Design of Experiments and project plansAims, variables and hypotheses, choosing methods and analysis, Design of Experiments and factorial designs with worked effects, interactions, trial runs, milestones, Gantt charts and resources.Open →
- Good Laboratory Practice, risk assessment and COSHHGood Laboratory, Manufacturing and Clinical Practice, checklists, hazard and risk, risk assessment and the hierarchy of control, COSHH, hazard data, ethics and lab book records.Open →
- Experimental error, scientific writing and evaluationRandom and systematic error, precision and accuracy, repeatability, reproducibility and reliability, percentage uncertainty and error, results tables, anomalies, error bars, conclusions, evaluation and report writing.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
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How do random and systematic errors differ, and how can each be reduced?
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How do the mean, median and mode differ?
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What are inferential statistics?
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What is the aim of a scientific investigation?
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What is Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)?
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What makes an investigation scientific?
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The resting pulse rates of six people are 68, 72, 72, 75, 80 and 91 beats per minute. What are the mean, median and mode?
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What is a null hypothesis?
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What are the independent, dependent and control variables in an experiment?
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How is Good Laboratory Practice shown in day-to-day laboratory work?
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What is the difference between random and systematic error?
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Why must a scientific hypothesis be falsifiable?
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When is the median a better average than the mean?
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What is an alternative hypothesis?
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In an investigation of how pH affects catalase activity, identify the independent and dependent variables and two control variables.
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What is Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)?
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How can random errors and systematic errors be reduced?
Take Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Systematic error vs Random error
Systematic error: a consistent offset that shifts every reading the same way from the true value. Random error: unpredictable scatter of readings on either side of the true value.
Repeatability vs Reproducibility
Repeatability: close agreement between results from the same person, method and equipment. Reproducibility: close agreement between results obtained by different people, laboratories or methods.
Null hypothesis vs Alternative hypothesis
Null hypothesis: a statement that there is no difference or relationship between the variables tested. Alternative hypothesis: a statement that a real difference or relationship exists between the variables tested.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What makes an investigation scientific?
Model answer
A scientific investigation tests a clear, falsifiable hypothesis by collecting measurable evidence under controlled conditions. The method is recorded in enough detail for others to repeat it.
- 2
Why must a scientific hypothesis be falsifiable?
Model answer
A falsifiable hypothesis makes a prediction that evidence could show to be wrong. A claim that no possible result could contradict cannot be tested scientifically.
- 3
What is a negative result?
Model answer
A negative result is an outcome that does not support the hypothesis, such as finding no significant difference between groups. A well-designed study with a negative result is still valid evidence.
- 4
Why do negative results matter to science?
Model answer
Negative results stop other scientists repeating work that has already found no effect. Published negative results also reduce publication bias, which otherwise makes treatments look more effective than they are.
- 5
How does a negative result differ from a failed experiment?
Model answer
A negative result comes from a sound method that simply found no effect. A failed experiment produces unusable data because of a flaw, such as contamination or faulty equipment.
- 6
What features make a good scientific investigation?
Model answer
A good investigation has a clear aim, a testable hypothesis and one independent variable. Other variables are controlled, and enough repeats are taken to give data that can be analysed statistically.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation revision questions
- What does Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation cover in CCEA A-Level Life and Health Sciences?
- 6 subtopics: the scientific method, literature reviews and harvard referencing, descriptive statistics and the normal distribution, null hypotheses, significance and choosing a statistical test, investigation design, design of experiments and project plans, good laboratory practice, risk assessment and coshh and experimental error, scientific writing and evaluation. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation organised?
- By the CCEA 0008 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Scientific Method, Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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