Lesson 1: Scientific Method Flashcards
(28 cards)
The study of the natural world through observation and experiment
science
The study of life
Biology
7 steps of the scientific method
- Observations
- Question/Problem
- Hypothesis
- Controlled Experiment
- Results
- Conclusion
- Repeat to (possibly) form a theory
Educated guess based on observation
Hypothesis
Explanation of why many hypotheses are highly supported. Usually explains why something would happen and requires a lot of evidence (explains WHY)
Theory
Summarizes a group of observations without description. Usually mathematical and requires lots of evidence (explains WHAT)
Law
Independent variable
What you are changing in the experimental group
Dependent variable
What is caused by the independent variable
Controlled variable/constants
Everything that has to be the same between the experimental group
Control group
The group that is left alone. The independent variable is not changed in this group
Qualitative data
Uses the 5 senses or emotions
Quantitative data
Uses numbers
Subjective data
What is said; opinion
Objective data
Can be observed
Raw data
Collected data before analysis
Processed data
Analyzed data
Mean
The average
Median
The middle value of the data set
Percent change
The difference between values of two different groups
(|Experimental-Control|/(Control) x100% = percent difference
Only to compare between groups
Standard deviation
Measure of how precise your results are
Large SD - imprecise results
Small SD - precise results
4 main types of graphs
Bar graph
Line graph
Pie chart
Scatter plot
Bar graph
Compares different categories
Ex. Final plant height comparisons; amount of wins by each NBA team
Line graph
Shows how the value of something changes over time
Ex. Plant growth over time; average temperatures over 10 years
Pie chart
Shows parts/percentage of a whole
Ex. % of students who have an A, B, C, D, or F in Biology
