AP BIO - Unit 1: Chemistry of Life - VOCAB

Hypothesis

predictions that can be tested by recording more observations or experiments

Theory

Summarizes a group of hypotheses

Inductive reasoning

derive specifics based on a large number of general observations

Experimental group

The group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested

Scientific Law

Statement of fact usually as a mathematical formula

Control group

The group that does not receive the experimental treatment.

Deductive reasoning

General results are derived from specificpremises

Independent Variable

the one factor that is changed by the person doing the experiment

Constants

the factors in an experiment that remain the same

alternative hypotheses

The hypothesis that states there is a difference between two or more sets of data.

null hypothesis

a hypothesis which the researcher tries to disprove, reject or nullify

Dependent Variable

the factor which is measured in the experiment

Mean

the average of the data set | adding all # together then / by amt of #

Median

the middle number in a range of data points | Arranging #'s in numerical order and picking the # in the middle

central tendencies

mean, median, mode

Mode

the value that appears most often in a data set

Variability

the measure of how far a data set diverges from the central tendency | Measured by range and standard deviation

Range

the difference between the largest and smallest values

Standard deviation

a measure of how spread out the data is from the mean

Standard error of the mean (SEM or SEx )

used to determine the precision of and confidence in the mean value