Science skills Flashcards
What makes a good scientific question
Whether it is testable and objective
Where does scientific questions come from?
Observations of natural phenomenon, individual, curiosity, previous experiments
What are some characteristics of scientific questions?
If it is testable, about natural world, must have a real answer
What makes a good hypothesis
If it is specific, clear and it is a prediction.
prediction between two variables, use, if, then, because
If IV increases/decreases, then DV increases/decreases, because…
What does a hypothesis identify?
How the independent variable will affect the dependent variable
What are the three types of inquiries and describe them?
Controlled experiment-one variable is manipulated to test the effect on another variable
Observational experiment -Through observations, example, climate of a region
Correlational study -when variables are observed in their natural environment without any interference of controlling variables
What is an independent and dependent variable?
Independent variable is what is being changed/manipulated
Dependent variable is what is being measured/tested
Controlled variables remain constant. There are always many controlled variables.
What are some look for in a procedure?
Sequential, trials, specific equipment/materials, specific measurements, controls, included, specific observations, no personal pronouns, repeatable, detailed, and specific, one action per step/line, past tense, step-by-step instructions on how to complete procedure
What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative observations?
Qualitative-description based on senses using words, e.g. shape, size color, texture
Quantitative -measurement or numbers using a data table e.g. mass ,population ,length, temperature
Name the four different types of graphs, and what they do
Line graph-reveals trends or progress overtime, continuous data set
Scatterplot -used to see if there is a relationship between two variables useful when many different data points to find similarities
Pie chart -percentages of how much categories represent out of 100
Histogram/bar graph -comparison between or overtime
Examples of sources of errors
Environmental -wind, soil, rain climate
measurement- bouncy ball will not always reach the same height every time
Sources of error are not…
Measuring improperly, mistakes, scientist made, not following procedure correctly, entering numbers, wrong, these are human errors
How do you write a conclusion?
What is the hypothesis supported or refuted, after summarizing look back on findings and hypothesis explain why it was supported or refuted, future experiment, never say “wrong”, no personal pronouns
