Vocabulary 1
A scientific test or procedure that is carried out under controlled conditions to answer a scientific question.
WHAT IS AN EXPERIMENT?
Information about the natural world gathered through the senses and/or scientific instruments.
WHAT IS AN OBSERVATION?
An explanation based on evidence that is not directly observed.
WHAT IS INFERENCE?
An organized scientific study of the natural world that may include making systematic observations, asking questions, gathering information, analyzing data, summarizing results, drawing conclusions, and/or communicating results.
WHAT IS INVESTIGATION?
A statement that tells what an investigation showed, based on observations and data.
WHAT IS CONCLUSION?
An event, condition, or factor that can be changed or controlled in order to study or test a hypothesis in a scientific experiment.
WHAT IS A VARIABLE?
A group in a scientific experiment that serves as a reference for comparison to the experimental group; a group that is untreated by the factor being tested.
WHAT IS A CONTROL GROUP?
One type of plan of inquiry that typically include a question/problem (or purpose), hypothesis, experiment (materials and procedures), results, conclusion (analysis of results), and application.
WHAT IS SCIENTIFIC METHOD?
Why is it important to have a control in an investigation?
A. Controls are used to show that different results are caused by changing the variable.
B. Without controls, it is not possible to make a hypothesis.
A. Controls are used to show that different results are caused by changing the variable.
Multiple sets of measurements or observations in a scientific investigation.
WHAT ARE TRIALS?
A valid scientific investigation must be able to be
A. observed
B. replicated (which means repeated)
B. replicated (which means repeated)
A term used to describe a question that can be answered through an experiment or observation.
WHAT IS TESTABLE? (SCIENTIFICALLY TESTABLE)
Which question would be best to answer using a scientific investigation?
A. Why are people afraid during thunderstorms?
B. Does temperature affect the amount of rain?
B. Does temperature affect the amount of rain?
Which would be the best source of information for a scientist?
A. a book review
B. an article in a science journal
B. an article in a science journal
Which is the best description of the dependent variable?
A. the variable that is changed by the scientist
B. the measurable variable
B. the measurable variable
A term used to describe the certainty of data or results of an investigation or experiment.
WHAT IS VALID?
Scientists who study hurricanes sometimes fly into the hurricanes to take readings from inside the storm. How does this differ from most scientific research?
A. Hurricane scientists cannot control variables.
B. Hurricane scientists cannot collect data.
A. Hurricane scientists cannot control variables.
A scientist says that she has made an important discovery about sound waves. What needs to happen for most other scientists to accept her results?
A. Many scientists need to review the results.
B. Other scientists need to be able to get the same results.
B. Other scientists need to be able to get the same results.
Measurements or observations collected and recorded in an experiment or investigation.
WHAT IS DATA?
_____involve using your five senses to gather data and information about the world around you.
A. Predictions
B. Observations
B. Observations
Adriana would like to investigate the effect of temperature on the amount of food birds eat. What should she do first to begin her investigation?
A. develop a question
B. design an experiment
A. develop a question
Austin is studying states of matter by heating water in a pan. Which statement from his notebook is an observation?
A. It is hard to estimate the size of the bubbles.
B. Tiny bubbles form on the bottom of the pan.
B. Tiny bubbles form on the bottom of the pan.
Scientists are studying how bears kept in zoos behave. Which of these would be the best control group?
A. other animals in zoos
B. bears in the wild
B. bears in the wild
One way to analyze data from a study is to
A. make a graph
B. develop a hypothesis
A. make a graph
_______ are statements that forecast what might happen in the future.
A. Observations
B. Predictions
B. Predictions