Topic 1: How do we study Physical Science? Flashcards
Observation
The process of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way
Inference
A logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience
Hypothesis
A possible explanation for a set of observations or possible answers to a scientific experiment
Controlled experiment
An experiment in which only one variable is changed
Independent variable
The factor in a controlled experiment that is deliberately changed
Dependent variable
The variable that is observed and that changes in response to the independent variable
Control group
The group in an experiment that is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group except for one independent variable
Fieldwork
Collecting data and making observations of organisms in the wild
Quantitative data
Numerical data that can be measured or counted
Qualitative data
Non-numerical data based on opinions or observations
Primary data
Data that you collect yourself, first-hand
Secondary data
Data that is collected by someone else, but you can research (e.g. online)
Sampling
Selecting data from an area or population that is assumed to represent the whole population
Scientific theory
The best possible explanation to a certain question based on the experiments and data collected at that time
Ethics
The question of whether it is ‘right’ to conduct an experiment (e.g. testing on animals) or the honesty results
