Scientific Method and Characteristics of Life Vocabulary Hon Bio

observation

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

hypothesis

a scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tested in ways that support or reject it

controlled experiment

an experiment in which only one variable is changed...all other variables are kept the same

dependent variable

the responding variable; the variable that is observed and that changes in response to another variable

independent variable

the manipulated variable; the variable that is deliberately chaged

control group

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

experimental group

the group(s) that is exposed to the independent variable

quantitative data

numbers obtained by counting or measuring in an experiment

qualitative data

descriptive information that cannot be counted or measured in an experiment

peer review

A process by which the procedures and results of an experiment are evaluated by other scientists who are in the same field or who are conducting similar research.

theory

a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations and hypotheses and that enables scientists to make accurate predictions about new situations

bias

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

growth

to become larger

development

to change into a mature form

homeostasis

the maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment even when the external conditions change dramatically

sexual reproduction

cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism

asexual reproduction

a single organism produces offspring identical to itself

evolve

change over time

metabolism

all the chemical reactions in which an organism builds up or breaks down materials

stimulus

a signal to which an organism responds

inference

a logical interpretation based on what scientists already know