Unit 4 12B: Scientific evidence Flashcards
Qualitative data
Data that is descriptive (not numeric)
Continuous Data
Data that is measurable and continuous, with infinite possible values; best represented by a line graph
Quantitative data
Data that is measured and represented numerically
Discrete Data
Data that is countable and in discrete categories; contains distinct or separate values; best represented by a bar graph
Accuracy
How close a measurement is to the true value of the quantity being measured
True value
The value that could be obtained if the quantity could be measured perfectly
Systematic error
When the readings obtained from measurements differ from the true value consistently in one direction every time
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Random error
An unpredictable variation in the readings obtined, due to variables not all being controlled and results in the readings being higher or lower than expected
Outlier
A reading that is very different from other results obtained for the same measurement
Precision
How close all the measurements are to each other