Method Terminology

Independent variable

The variable that you change or manipulate during an experiment

Dependent variable

The variable that you measure or observe to see the effect of changing the independent variable.

Control Variables

The variables that you must keep constant or same throughout the experiment to ensure a fair test.

Hypothesis

A proposed, testable idea or explanation about how something works.

Prediction

A specific statement about what will happen in the experiment if the hypothesis is correct.

Validity

How well the experiment tests what it is supposed to test, dependent on controlling variables properly.

Appartus

The specific scientific equipment, tools, and instruments used to conduct the investigation.

Anomalous result

A data point that does not fit the pattern of the rest of the results and should be retested or excluded from averages.

Accuracy

How close a numerical measurement is to the true or accepted value.

Precision

How close repeated measurements are to one another.

Repeatable

Data is repeatable if you (the same person or group) do the experiment again using the same equipment and method, and get very similar results.

Reproducible

Data is reproducible if a different person or group does the experiment (or uses different equipment/methods) and still gets very similar results.