Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions)
Unit 2: Unit 2 Synthesis (Molecule to Patient)MI 2Biotechnology Research and Experiments

Evaluate Validity Reliability

Judge whether evidence is trustworthy enough and name what limits the claim.

Builds on (2 levels back)inferred · high confidence
  • Read a data table: Students need to find values, labels, and units before calculating or graphing.
  • Fair-test logic: Variables and controls make comparisons meaningful.

Prerequisites are inferred: pending teacher review.

Re-learn the skill with worked practice and clear examples.

Judge whether evidence is trustworthy enough and name what limits the claim.

Step 1: Learn the key
Reliable evidence has a clear [blank], working [blank], and repeatable results; a limitation says what is still [blank].
Reliability checkStronger evidence
Repeated resultsame pattern appears again
Working controlspositive and negative controls behave
Clear sourcesample identity is known
Large enough samplenot based on one case
Reliability and limitation checklist
Step 2: Use the model
Read the figure, table, control, range, or protocol before choosing an answer.
Step 3: Name the limit
Say what the evidence can support and what it cannot prove yet.
Practice

Use the reliability checklist. Which evidence is weakest?

Reviewed
Reliability checkStronger evidence
Repeated resultsame pattern appears again
Working controlspositive and negative controls behave
Clear sourcesample identity is known
Large enough samplenot based on one case
Reliability and limitation checklist
  1. A.One unlabeled sample with no control
  2. B.Three repeated results with controls
  3. C.A sample with clear source and expected controls
  4. D.A test repeated by a second team
Show the worked solution ▾

Answer: A. One unlabeled sample with no control

  1. Step 1: Check sample identity: Unlabeled means unclear source.
  2. Step 2: Check controls: No control weakens interpretation.

Why it's right: An unlabeled sample without controls is weakest.

Why the others miss:
  • B: This is stronger.
  • C: This is stronger.
  • D: Independent repeat is stronger.

Aligned to Biotechnology Research and Experiments · reading level ~grade 9

Where you'd see this
  • In Unit 2 Synthesis (Molecule to Patient), this skill turns class evidence into a result another person can check.
Video library
Watch: Evaluate Validity Reliability
Validity, reliability and accuracy explained
PhysicsHigh · 8 min
Guided notes

Fill these in as you work through the lesson.

Big idea: Judge whether evidence is trustworthy enough and name what limits the claim.
Key terms: write the meaning
  • Reliability (how trustworthy evidence is):  
  • Validity (whether the test measures the right thing):  
  • Limitation (weakness or missing information):  
  • Repeatability (same result when repeated):  
The rule

Reliable evidence has a clear  , working  , and repeatable results; a limitation says what is still  .

Check yourself
  1. Did controls work? 
  2. Was the sample identity clear? 
  3. What evidence is missing? 
Work one example

A result is positive but has one trial and no control. Name the limitation and next step.