Key Words Flashcards
Accuracy
How close the measurement is to the true value
Calibration
Marking a scale on a measuring instruments et put instrument in a known measurement and make sure it’s the same eg water potential or absorbency of distilled water
Data
Information that is either qualitative or quantitative
Errors
Uncertainties in data sets
Measurement error
The difference between the measured value and the true value
Anomalies
Values that are not part of the variation of the whole data set caused by random uncertainties
Random error
Results vary in an unpredictable way each time the effect of random errors can be reduced by finding more measurements and making mean
Systematic error
Reading differ from the true value by a consistent amount each time,can be due to environment, the instruments being used
How reduce systematic errors
Repeat data collection using different technique of set of equipment
Zero error
When a measuring tool gives a false reading when the true vs,I’d of a measurement is zero eg when no weight on scales not at zero
Evidence
Data that has shown to be valid
Fair test
Where only the independent variable has effected the dependant variable
Hypothesis
An initial prediction of how the IV will affect the DV
Interval
The quantity between readings they should be equally spaced
Precision
The amount of variation the data shows from the mean the more precise the closer the data to the mean
Prediction
A statement suggesting what will happen in the future based on an observation or hypothesis
Range
The maximum and minimum values if the independent if dependant variables
Repeatable
The original experimenter repeats the experiment using same method and equipment getting the same results
Reproducible
If different experimenter repeat or different technique or equipment is used to get the similar findings
Resolution
The smallest change in the quantity being measured of a measuring instrument
Sketch graph
A line graph that shows the relationship between two variables axis maybe labelled but not scaled just to show correlation type and strength
Uncertainty
The interval within which the true value can be expected to lie with a given level of confidence or probability
Validity
Whether the experimenter is measuring what they set out to measure and whether the findings answer the initial questions
Valid conclusion
A conclusion supported by valid data obtained from appropriate experimental design
Variables
Physical, chemical or biological quantities or characteristics
Categoric variables
Have va,he’s that are labels eg names of plants
Continuous variables
Ones that have values that can be valued ie counted or measured eg light intensity
Control variable
Variables that have to be kept constant that may effect the outcome of experiment
Dependant variable
The variable that is being measured at each change of the IV to see whether effected
Independent variable
The variable that is changed to see it effect in the dependant variable
Nominal variable
A type of categorical variable in which there’s no order to eg colours of flowers
