sci method Flashcards
accuracy
the extent to which the measurements are correct.
blind experiment
an experiment where the subjects do not know whether they are receiving the test treatment or the placebo.
classification
the grouping of organisms based on the similarity of their characteristics;
the placement of organisms into groups.
conclusion
a summary of how the data supports or disproves the hypothesis.
continuous data
quantitative data with an infinite number of possibilities
control
a procedure carried out to give a comparison in an experiment
controlled variable
a factor kept the same for both the control and the experimental groups in an experiment
data
observations and measurements
the results of an experiment
dependant variable
in an experiment, the fact that changes in response to changes made to the independent variable
double blind experiment
an experiment where neither the subject nor the experimenter know who receives the test treatment or the placebo
ethical behaviour
behaviour that conforms to a set of moral principles or values
ethics
moral principles or values
fair test
an experiment that only changes the independent variable and controls all other variables to test the hypothesis
human error
an error due to the limitations of human ability
hypothesis
a possible explanation to account for observations
plural ; hypotheses
independent variable
in an experiment, the factor being investigated; the factor deliberately changed to determine its effect.
interpretation
an attempt to explain the observation
line graph
graph used to represent continuous data
bar graph
a graph used to represent discrete data
observation
the process of using the senses to acquire information
placebo
a substance or procedure that has no therapeutic effect but is used as a control test
placebo effect
a change or improvement in patients who are given a placebo treatment
prediction
a guess at what might happen in the future
qualitative data
observations that do not involve numbers or measurements
e.g. colour
quantitative data
data expressed in numbers;
usually involved measurement.
random error
an error in an experiment due to the limits to the precision of the measurements.
reliability
the extent to which an experiment gives the same result each time it is performed.
repetition
doing the same experiment many times
scientific method
a process of conducting valid investigations
systematic error
an error that occurs in an experiment because of the way the experiment was designed
test
a method used to collect data to determine whether a hypothesis is supported or not
theory
a hypothesis becomes a theory when there is overwhelming evidence in support of it
validity
the extent to which an experiment tests what is supposed to test
variable
any factor that may change during an experiment
