Unit 1: Experimental Design Vocabulary Definitions

Observation

the process of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way

Inference

a logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience

Hypothesis

a possible explanation for a set of observations or a possible answer to a scientific question

Experiment

a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact

Dependent Variable

variable that is observed and changes in response to the independent variable; can also be called the responding variable

Independent Variable

factor in a controlled experiment that is deliberately changed; can also be called manipulated variable

Controlled Variable

variable(s) that is not changed during the experiment

Control Group

the group in an experiment that is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group except for one independent variable

Experimental Group

The group subject to the independent variable

Qualitative Data

A non-numerical description of an object

Quantitative

A numerical measurement about an object

Results

The data and statistics we get from an experiment

Conclusion

the final step of the scientific process that connects back to your hypothesis or research question

Bar graph

Graphical representation of measurements of data from the experiment represented with bars

Line graph

Graphical representation of measurements of data from the experiment represented with lines