Scientific Method

Science

An organized way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world.

Bias

A particular preference or point of view that is personal, rather than scientific.

Observation

The act of noticing and describing events or processes

Inference

An interpretation of an event based on what you already know

Hypothesis

A possible explanation to an observation or answer to a scientific question. An educated "guess"

controlled experiment

experiment in which only one variable is changed

Variable

A factor that can change in an experiment

independent (manipulated) variable

the variable that is deliberately changed

dependent (responding) variable

the variable that is observed and that changes in response to the independent variable

control group

a group that is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group except for one independent variable

control variables

VARIABLES THAT REMAIN CONSTANT OR UNCHANGED

Quantitative data

numbers obtained by counting or measuring

qualitative data

Descriptive information that cannot be counted. Information describing color, odor, shape, or some other physical characteristic

Theory

a scientific explanation of events in the natural world that has been well tested and reliable

"There were 24 bubbles made" is an example of which type of data?

Quantitative. Quantitative is numbers or quantities in an experiment

"The plant turned red after the experiment" is an example of which type of data?

Qualitative. Qualitative is descriptive information in an experiment that cannot be counted.

"I see a white wall" would be an example of an observation or an inference?

Observation. Observations are what you notice.

"Ms. Visel seems happy today" would be an example of an observation or an inference?

An inference. You are interpreting Ms. Visel's feelings based on what you see. You don't know for sure if she is happy

Which is NOT a goal of science?

-Investigating and understanding nature

-Explaining events in nature

-Using your own personal views to support your experiments

-Making useful predictions

Using your own personal views. Part of science is not including bias, which is our personal beliefs

"Observe and Ask Questions" is what step in the scientific method?

Step 1

"Infer and form a hypothesis" is what step in the scientific method?

Step 2

"Design a controlled experiment" is what step in the scientific method?

Step 3

"Collect and Analyze data" is what step in the scientific method?

Step 4

"Draw a conclusion" is what step in the scientific method?

Step 5

What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is just a possible explanation, or a guess, that can be right or wrong. A theory is a scientific explanation that has been well tested and is reliable