key scientific skills

Question 1

investigation aim

Answer 1

the purpose of a study

Question 2

investigation question

Answer 2

the question that is to be solved by study

Question 3

hypothesis

Answer 3

a statement predicting the probable outcomes of an investigation

Question 4

independent variable

Answer 4

the variable that is being manipulated by the researcher

Question 5

dependent variable

Answer 5

the variable that is being measured by the researcher

Question 6

controlled experiment

Answer 6

an experimental investigation of the relationship between one or more independent variables and a dependent variables, in which all other variables are controlled.

Question 7

extraneous variable

Answer 7

a variable other than the independent variable that may have an unwanted effect on the dependent variable and results of an investigation.

Question 8

controlled variable

Answer 8

a variable that is held constant to ensure that the only influence on the dependent variable is the independent variable.

Question 9

confounding variable

Answer 9

an unwanted variable that has affected the results of an investigation

Question 10

population

Answer 10

the wider group of people that a study is investigating

Question 11

sample

Answer 11

the smaller group of people selected from the population who will be participants in the investigation.