Scientific Investigation Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering the components and steps of a scientific investigation and the scientific method.

Science

The study of the world around us that helps us understand the how and why behind the things we see, hear, and experience in nature.

Scientific Investigation

A process used by scientists to explore and understand the natural world involving a systematic approach to asking questions, gathering evidence, and drawing conclusions based on observations and experiments.

Scientific Method

A step-by-step process used to solve problems.

Aim or Problem

The step in the scientific method where you define the problem you want to solve or know, usually phrased in the form of a question.

Preliminary Data

Basic information or initial observations gathered to understand a situation better before experimenting by looking for trends and patterns.

Hypothesis

An educated guess or prediction about what will happen in an experiment that can be tested through experimentation.

Independent Variable

The value or thing that is being changed or manipulated on purpose in an experiment; it is the cause that you control or choose.

Dependent Variable

The factor that changes relying on the change in the independent variable; it is the effect or the data that you collect.

Materials and Equipment

A list of all the tools, equipment, and items needed to perform an experiment safely and correctly.

Method and Procedure

A step-by-step plan designed to test the hypothesis, outlining how the experiment will be conducted.

Testing the Hypothesis

The stage of the scientific method where you follow a step-by-step procedure using materials and tools to collect evidence to find out if the independent variable affects the dependent variable.

Qualitative Data

Information that describes qualities or characteristics, such as "the water is cloudy" or "the plant is green."

Quantitative Data

Information that uses numbers and measurements, such as "the ice melted in $3$ minutes" or "the temperature is $25^{\circ}C$."

Conclusion

The final step in a scientific investigation where you explain what you found out based on your data and whether your hypothesis was supported or not.