Quantitative Data and Scientific Investigations

These flashcards cover key concepts related to precision, accuracy, hypothesis formulation, and variables in scientific investigations.

What is precision in quantitative data?

Precision refers to how close your measurements are to each other.

What does accuracy refer to in the context of data measurement?

Accuracy refers to how close your measurement is to the correct or accepted value.

Why is background research important in scientific investigations?

Background research leads to defining the purpose or objective for the experiment.

What is the overall goal of a scientific investigation?

The overall goal is to answer a question based on observations.

What constitutes a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a potential explanation for what might happen; a testable prediction that describes a cause and effect relationship between variables.

What is the format for a hypothesis?

The format is 'If (IV) then (DV)', where IV is the independent variable and DV is the dependent variable.

What is an independent variable (IV)?

The independent variable is what the experimenter deliberately changes or manipulates in the investigation.

On which axis of a graph is the independent variable usually represented?

The independent variable is usually represented on the x-axis of a graph.

What is a dependent variable (DV)?

The dependent variable is what changes in response to the independent variable; it is usually represented by the data collected in an investigation.

On which axis of a graph is the dependent variable typically displayed?

The dependent variable is typically represented on the y-axis of a graph.