Ch. 2 Key Terms Flashcards
Observation
A piece of information we gather using our senses—our sight, hearing, smell, and touch
Hypothesis
A testable idea or explanation that leads to a scientific investigation
Prediction
A logical statement about what will happen if the hypothesis supported
Experiment
A procedure designed to test a hypothesis under controlled conditions
Variable
The factor of interest, which, in our example, would be the level of phosphate in the water
Experimental Group
The group that receives the experimental treatment
Control Group
The group that does not receive the experimental treatment
Data
The information that a scientist gathers during an experiment, which is often in numeric form
Correlations
Associations between two or more events
Mean
The number obtained by adding the data fora characteristic and dividing this sum by the number of individuals
Distribution
The relative arrangement of the members of a statistical population
Probability
The chance that something will happen
Sample
A group of individuals or events selected to represent the population
Risk
The probability of an unwanted outcome
Models
Representations of objects or systems
