Lec 2

Question 1

hypothesis

Answer 1

tentative answer to a question or a proposed explanation of an observation

Question 2

theory

Answer 2

a general explanation of natural phenomena supported by many experiments and observations

Question 3

correlation

Answer 3

means one thing causes another—in other words, action A causes outcome B

Question 4

causation

Answer 4

a relationship where action A relates to action B—but one event doesn’t necessarily cause the other event to happen

Question 5

control group

Answer 5

no variable introduced, no expected change

Question 6

mean

Answer 6

average

Question 7

standard error (SE)

Answer 7

measures the amount of discrepancy that can be expected in a sample estimate compared to the true value in the population

Question 8

sample size

Answer 8

number of independent data points and determined based on probability and statistics

Question 9

test group

Answer 9

group in which the variable is changed

Question 10

variable

Answer 10

any factor that differs (varies) between groups in an experiment

Question 11

peer review

Answer 11

subjects an author’s scholarly work, research, or ideas to the scrutiny of others who are experts in the same field (peers) and is considered necessary to ensure academic scientific quality

Question 12

replication

Answer 12

repeating a study’s procedure and observing if the prior findings repeat in similar conditions

Question 13

negative control

Answer 13

sometimes called control, variable changed in test group is not changed in control group

Question 14

positive control

Answer 14

group with a variable introduced which has a known effect

Question 15

independent variable

Answer 15

factor that is manipulated in the test group

Question 16

dependent variable

Answer 16

the effect or result that is being observed or measured