Science Inquiry Skills Terminology Flashcards
Aim
A purpose or intention; a desired outcome.
Hypothesis
A proposition based on prior research that includes both the independent variable and the dependent variable.
Independent Variable
What is being changed on purpose in an experiment.
Dependent Variable
What is being measured in an experiment.
Controlled Variable
What is being kept constant throughout the experiment.
Uncontrolled Variable
What is not being controlled or cannot be controlled.
Raw Data
The data collected presented in a table that includes the trials of the data. Raw data also includes qualitative data (observations in pictures / illustrations)
Processed Data
The average of the raw data. This is presented as a table and then a graph.
Accuracy
How close the processed data in the graph is to its true value / follows the expected trend (based on research). Is the accuracy low or high? Accuracy is determined by systematic errors.
Validity
The extent to which the experiment measured what it was intended to measure.
Precision
Determines the scatter of data within the trials (raw data). This then determines whether there are a high amount of random errors. (High amount of scatter means high amount of random errors and vice versa)
Reliability
How reliable an experiment is, is determined by the number of random errors.
It is a measure of consistency. The more trials there are (sample size) the more reliable the experiment.
Random Errors
Are unpredictable changes that occur within an experiment. Random errors occur in every experiment. Increasing the sample size decreases the effect of random errors, which then increases reliability.
Systematic Errors
When the measurement makes the same kind of error every time it measures something.
Usually to do with the equipment. Systematic errors decrease the accuracy of the results. Repeating the experiment with different equipment decreases the impact of systematic errors and therefore increases accuracy and validity.
