Vocabulary Masters
The process of obtaining information by using the senses or instruments.
What is an observation?
The first step in a scientific investigation is usually to state this clearly and precisely.
What is defining the problem?
A visual, physical, computer-based, or mathematical representation of an object or system.
What is a model?
Information gathered through observation or experimentation.
What is data?
The collection of observations and measurements used to support a scientific explanation.
What is empirical evidence?
A well-supported explanation of nature based on a large amount of evidence.
What is a scientific theory?
In the correct order, these steps follow defining a problem: form a hypothesis, plan the investigation, identify variables, collect data, analyze data, and draw conclusions.
What are the scientific investigation steps?
A description of a specific relationship under given conditions in the natural world
What is a scientific law?
This tool organizes measurements, quantities, times, and frequencies in labeled rows and columns.
What is a data table?
The most reliable source for information about a current scientific issue is generally this type of publication.
What is a peer-reviewed scientific journal?
An organized procedure used to study something under controlled conditions.
What is an experiment?
A scientist studies animals in their natural habitat without changing the conditions. This is this type of investigation.
What is fieldwork or an observation?
This type of scientific knowledge explains how or why natural events occur and is supported by extensive evidence.
What is a scientific theory?
This graph is best for comparing data in separate categories, such as types of movies.
What is a bar graph?
Scientists use this process when they examine one another’s methods, evidence, and conclusions before publication.
What is peer review?
This is the factor deliberately changed by a scientist in an investigation.
What is the independent variable?
A chemist wants to isolate products from chemical reactions while controlling temperature and other conditions. This setting is most appropriate.
What is a laboratory?
The DNA double-helix model is useful because it represents a complex molecule, but it cannot show every detail of actual DNA. Identify one benefit and one limitation of models.
What are that models make complex objects easier to study but are simplified representations with limitations?
This graph is used to show how parts relate to a whole, such as movie preferences totaling all surveyed students.
What is a circle graph or pie chart?
When the same scientist conducts multiple trials of an investigation, this is called this.
What is repetition?
This is the answer reached after scientists analyze data and decide whether the evidence supports the hypothesis
What is a conclusion?
An investigation does not support its hypothesis. Describe two scientifically appropriate next steps
What are revising the hypothesis, collecting more evidence, repeating the experiment, or designing another investigation?
Boyle’s law describes how gas pressure and volume are related. The kinetic theory of gases explains the movement of gas particles that produces this relationship. What does this example show?
What is that a law describes what happens, while a theory explains how or why it happens?
A student records plant height each week. Which graph should be used to show continuous change over time, and what pattern might the graph reveal?
What is a line graph? It can show whether plant height increases, decreases, or remains constant over time.
When a classmate or another research team conducts an investigation that someone else already completed, this is called this. Explain why it strengthens scientific knowledge.
What is replication? It strengthens scientific knowledge by showing that similar results can be obtained by different investigators.