unit 1 Flashcards
testable question
ones which can be answered through experimental inquiry and observation of the natural world
non testable question
Questions that cannot be answered by direct observation or by evidence gathered through experimental inquiries
quantitative
relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something rather than its quality
qualitative
relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity
trials
test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something
observation
the action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information
empirical evidence
information gathered directly or indirectly through observation or experimentation that
data
facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis
model is science
a representation of a phenomenon, object, structure, or system
analogy
a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification
prototype
a first, typical or preliminary model of something, especially a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied
hypothesis
a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation
variable
not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to change
procedure
an established or official way of doing something
precision
the quality, condition, or fact of being exact and accurate
accuracy
the quality or state of being correct or precise
scientific method
a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses
control
the power to influence or direct people’s behavior or the course of events
constant
the act of doing over and over again
predict
to think of what will happen in the future
infer
deduce or conclude (information) from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements
independent variable
a variable (often denoted by x ) whose variation does not depend on that of another
dependent variable
a variable (often denoted by y ) whose value depends on that of another
manipulated variable
a part of an experiment that you can change to see how other variables respond
responding variable
the part of an experiment that a scientists measures and observes closely for a change or a response
sample size
the number of observations or individuals included in a study or experiment
validity
the quality of being logically or factually sound; soundness or cogency
trends in data
the general change in a variable with time
correlation
a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things
variability
lack of consistency or fixed pattern; liability to vary or change
mass
a coherent, typically large body of matter with no definite shape
volume
the amount of space that a substance or object occupies, or that is enclosed within a container, especially when great
weight
how heavy or light an object is
percent
by a specified amount in or for every hundred
rate
a measure, quantity, or frequency, typically one measured against some other quantity or measure
ratio
the quantitative relation between two amounts showing the number of times one value contains or is contained within the other
line graph
a graphical representation of information that changes over a period of time
bar graph
a diagram in which the numerical values of variables are represented by the height or length of lines or rectangles of equal width
pie graph
a type of graph representing data in a circular form, with each slice of the circle
scatterplot
a graph in which the values of two variables are plotted along two axes, the pattern of the resulting points revealing any correlation present
claim
a demand for something due or believed to be due
evidence
things to back up a claim
reason
a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event
theory
a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained
bias
prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair
