Lesson 1: Scientific Method

Question 1

The study of the natural world through observation and experiment

Answer 1

science

Question 2

The study of life

Answer 2

Biology

Question 3

7 steps of the scientific method

Answer 3

1. Observations
2. Question/Problem
3. Hypothesis
4. Controlled Experiment
5. Results
6. Conclusion
7. Repeat to (possibly) form a theory

Question 4

Educated guess based on observation

Answer 4

Hypothesis

Question 5

Explanation of why many hypotheses are highly supported. Usually explains why something would happen and requires a lot of evidence (explains WHY)

Answer 5

Theory

Question 6

Summarizes a group of observations without description. Usually mathematical and requires lots of evidence (explains WHAT)

Answer 6

Law

Question 7

Independent variable

Answer 7

What you are changing in the experimental group

Question 8

Dependent variable

Answer 8

What is caused by the independent variable

Question 9

Controlled variable/constants

Answer 9

Everything that has to be the same between the experimental group

Question 10

Control group

Answer 10

The group that is left alone. The independent variable is not changed in this group

Question 11

Qualitative data

Answer 11

Uses the 5 senses or emotions

Question 12

Quantitative data

Answer 12

Uses numbers

Question 13

Subjective data

Answer 13

What is said; opinion

Question 14

Objective data

Answer 14

Can be observed

Question 15

Raw data

Answer 15

Collected data before analysis

Question 16

Processed data

Answer 16

Analyzed data

Question 17

Mean

Answer 17

The average

Question 18

Median

Answer 18

The middle value of the data set

Question 19

Percent change

Answer 19

The difference between values of two different groups

(|Experimental-Control|/(Control) x100% = percent difference

Only to compare between groups

Question 20

Standard deviation

Answer 20

Measure of how precise your results are

Large SD - imprecise results
Small SD - precise results

Question 21

4 main types of graphs

Answer 21

Bar graph
Line graph
Pie chart
Scatter plot

Question 22

Bar graph

Answer 22

Compares different categories

Ex. Final plant height comparisons; amount of wins by each NBA team

Question 23

Line graph

Answer 23

Shows how the value of something changes over time

Ex. Plant growth over time; average temperatures over 10 years

Question 24

Pie chart

Answer 24

Shows parts/percentage of a whole

Ex. % of students who have an A, B, C, D, or F in Biology

Question 25

Scatter plot

Answer 25

Measures the relationship/correlation between two variables

Question 26

HAULT

Answer 26

Header
Axis Labels (x and y)
Units (x and y)
Legend (key)
Trend (patterns/interesting relationships)

Question 27

Science is…

Answer 27

Tentative (testable)

Question 28

Characteristics of good experimental design:

Answer 28

1. It MUST test a hypothesis
2. It MUST be reproducible (procedure)
3. The experimental group(s) has the IV applied to it.
4. One control group (no IV, Used for comparison)
5. You must keep unwated variables CONSTANT